England · AQASyllabus
Chemistry syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the England Chemistrysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
4.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table
Module overview →- What are atoms, elements and compounds, and how do we represent them?Atoms, elements and compounds; chemical symbols and formulae; mixtures and the separation techniques used to separate them.8 min answer →
- How are electrons arranged in atoms?Electronic structure; electrons occupy energy levels (shells); writing electron configurations for the first 20 elements and linking them to the periodic table.8 min answer →
- How do the properties and reactivity of Groups 1, 7 and 0 change down each group?Group 1 (alkali metals), Group 7 (halogens) and Group 0 (noble gases); their properties, reactions and the trends in reactivity down each group, explained by electronic structure.9 min answer →
- What is the difference between metals and non-metals, and why do they form different ions?Metals and non-metals; their positions in the periodic table; the ions they form; the link between electronic structure and reactivity.8 min answer →
- How did our model of the atom develop, and what is inside an atom?The structure of the atom; subatomic particles, their relative charges and masses; atomic number, mass number and isotopes; the development of the model of the atom from plum pudding to nuclear.9 min answer →
- How is the periodic table arranged, and how was it developed?The periodic table; arrangement by atomic number into groups and periods; how Mendeleev arranged the early table; metals and non-metals; the development of the table once protons were discovered.8 min answer →
4.2 Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
Module overview →- What are the three types of chemical bond, and when does each form?The three types of chemical bond (ionic, covalent and metallic); when each forms based on the elements involved; the link between bonding and the particles transferred or shared.8 min answer →
- How does covalent bonding work, and why do simple molecular and giant covalent substances differ?Covalent bonding; shared pairs of electrons; small molecules; giant covalent structures such as diamond, graphite and silicon dioxide; and how structure explains properties.9 min answer →
- How does ionic bonding work, and why do ionic compounds have their properties?Ionic bonding; the transfer of electrons to form ions; dot and cross diagrams; the giant ionic lattice; and how the structure explains melting points and conductivity.9 min answer →
- How does metallic bonding explain the properties of metals and alloys?Metallic bonding; positive ions in a sea of delocalised electrons; the properties of metals; why alloys are harder than pure metals.8 min answer →
- What are nanoparticles, and why does their size make them so useful?Nanoparticles; their sizes compared with atoms and bulk materials; surface area to volume ratio; uses; and the risks and considerations of nanotechnology.8 min answer →
- How does the particle model explain the three states of matter and changes of state?The three states of matter; the particle model; changes of state; state symbols; and the limitations of the particle model.8 min answer →
- How does the structure of a substance explain its bulk properties?Linking structure and bonding to properties; the four main structures; allotropes of carbon including graphene and fullerenes; and predicting properties from structure.9 min answer →
4.8 Chemical analysis
Module overview →- How does chromatography separate and identify substances?Paper chromatography; the mobile and stationary phases; calculating Rf values; and distinguishing pure substances from mixtures.8 min answer →
- What does pure mean in chemistry, and what is a formulation?Purity in chemistry; using melting and boiling points to test purity; the meaning of a formulation; and examples of formulations.8 min answer →
- How do we test for common gases and ions?Tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine; flame tests for metal ions; tests for carbonates, halides and sulfates; and instrumental methods.9 min answer →
4.4 Chemical changes
Module overview →- How does electrolysis split compounds, and what is formed at each electrode?Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds and aqueous solutions; the products at each electrode; half-equations; and the extraction of aluminium.9 min answer →
- How do acids react, and what is the pH scale?Acids, alkalis and the pH scale; neutralisation; reactions of acids with metals, bases, alkalis and carbonates; making soluble salts; strong and weak acids.9 min answer →
- How reactive are different metals, and how does this affect how they are extracted?The reactivity series; reactions of metals with water and acids; displacement reactions; oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen and electrons; and extraction of metals by reduction with carbon.9 min answer →
4.9 Chemistry of the atmosphere
Module overview →- What pollutants come from burning fuels, and what harm do they cause?Atmospheric pollutants from burning fuels; carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen; their sources; and their effects on health and the environment.8 min answer →
- How did the Earth's atmosphere evolve to its present composition?The composition of today's atmosphere; how the early atmosphere formed and changed; how oxygen increased; and how carbon dioxide decreased over time.8 min answer →
- How do greenhouse gases cause climate change, and what is the carbon footprint?Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; human activities that increase carbon dioxide and methane; global climate change and its effects; and the carbon footprint.8 min answer →
4.5 Energy changes
Module overview →- How do we calculate the overall energy change of a reaction from bond energies?Bond energy calculations; energy in to break bonds and out to make bonds; calculating the overall energy change; and linking the sign to exothermic or endothermic.9 min answer →
- What is the difference between exothermic and endothermic reactions?Exothermic and endothermic reactions; energy transfer to and from the surroundings; everyday examples; and the required practical on temperature changes.8 min answer →
- How do reaction profiles show energy changes and activation energy?Reaction profiles for exothermic and endothermic reactions; activation energy; and how a catalyst lowers the activation energy.8 min answer →
4.7 Organic chemistry
Module overview →- What are alkenes, and how do they form polymers?Alkenes and their general formula; the test for alkenes with bromine water; addition polymerisation; and the difference from alkanes.8 min answer →
- What is crude oil, and what are hydrocarbons and alkanes?Crude oil as a finite resource; hydrocarbons and the alkane homologous series; the general formula; and how properties change with chain length.8 min answer →
- How is crude oil separated, and why is cracking useful?Fractional distillation of crude oil; the fractions and their uses; the petrochemical industry; and cracking longer hydrocarbons into useful shorter ones.8 min answer →
4.3 Quantitative chemistry
Module overview →- How do we convert between mass, moles and number of particles?Amounts of substance in equations; calculating moles from mass; using moles to balance equations and find masses; the mole calculation triangle.9 min answer →
- How do we measure and calculate the concentration of a solution?Concentration of solutions in g/dm3 and mol/dm3; converting between them; using concentration in calculations; and titration ideas.9 min answer →
- Why is mass conserved in reactions, and what is the mole?Conservation of mass and balanced symbol equations; relative formula mass; the mole and the Avogadro constant; apparent changes in mass in reactions involving gases.9 min answer →
- How do we calculate the mass of a product from the mass of a reactant?Reacting masses; using moles to calculate the mass of a product or reactant; limiting reactants; and deducing balanced equations from masses.9 min answer →
- How do we measure how efficient a reaction is?Percentage yield; why yields are less than 100 percent; atom economy; and how both are used to judge how efficient and sustainable a reaction is.9 min answer →
4.6 The rate and extent of chemical change
Module overview →- What factors change the rate of a reaction, and why?Collision theory; the effects of concentration, pressure, surface area, temperature and catalysts on rate; and how catalysts work.9 min answer →
- What is the rate of a reaction, and how do we measure it?The rate of reaction; how to measure rate by following mass loss or gas volume; calculating mean rate; and finding the rate at a point from a tangent on a graph.9 min answer →
- What are reversible reactions, and how does equilibrium respond to change?Reversible reactions; dynamic equilibrium in a closed system; the energy changes of reversible reactions; and Le Chatelier's principle for changes in concentration, temperature and pressure.9 min answer →
4.10 Using resources
Module overview →- What are finite and renewable resources, and how can we use them sustainably?Natural and synthetic resources; finite and renewable resources; sustainable development; and extracting metals from low-grade ores by phytomining and bioleaching.8 min answer →
- How do we assess the environmental impact of products and reduce the use of resources?Life cycle assessments; the four stages and their environmental impacts; reducing, reusing and recycling; and the benefits of recycling metals and other materials.8 min answer →
- How is safe drinking water produced, and how does it differ from pure water?Potable water and pure water; treating fresh water; desalination of sea water; and waste water treatment.8 min answer →