Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405)

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Course Content

The full A-Level consists of 6 units of content:

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 1 Physical Chemistry

3.1.1 Atomic structure
3.1.2 Amount of substance
3.1.3 Bonding
3.1.4 Energetics
3.1.5 Kinetics
3.1.6 Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc
3.1.7 Oxidation, reduction and redox equations

The opening unit begins by looking at the atom, the building blocks of chemistry and considers how the atom is made up and how this impacts the chemistry of the molecules they form.  We then look at concentrations of solutions and the concept of the ‘mole’ as an amount of substance. The unit continues on to look at how atoms bind together using different types of bonding to form molecules and how the type of bonding influences the properties of a given compound. Energetics covers the energy transfers involved in chemical reactions and we investigate the requirements for a chemical reaction to successfully occur. The kinetics topic in the A-Level course show the student how the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and collision theory are key in the creation of models in chemistry and how they account for the different effects that changing variables can have on the rate of a reaction before the unit finishes off by looking at equilibrium reactions can go in both directions and investigates ways in which we can control the reaction, and finally, redox reactions, types of reactions that involve the loss and gain of electrons.

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 2 Inorganic Chemistry

3.2.1 Periodicity
3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
3.2.3 Group 7(17), the halogens

Unit 2 concentrates on the chemistry of inorganic compounds (those not generally involved in living things and do not contain the element, carbon). In this unit, we look at the periodic table and some of the key families of elements within it.

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 3 Organic Chemistry

3.3.1 Introduction to organic chemistry
3.3.2 Alkanes
3.3.3 Halogenoalkanes
3.3.4 Alkenes
3.3.5 Alcohols
3.3.6 Organic analysis

Unit 3 introduces the organic compounds all of which share in common the elements carbon, hydrogen and often oxygen or nitrogen. The unit opens by introducing some common ideas in organic chemistry including how to name an organic compound based on its constituent elements and the coordination of these elements within the molecule. We then look at four particular groups of organic compounds, before discovering ways in which we can analyse organic compounds to identify them.

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 4 Physical Chemistry

3.1.8 Thermodynamics (A-level only)
3.1.9 Rate equations (A-level only)
3.1.10 Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems (A-level only)
3.1.11 Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells (A-level only)
3.1.12 Acids and bases (A-level only)

Unit 4 builds on the AS unit 1, exploring in greater depth the path of energy through chemical reactions. We also build on our understanding of the requirements for a reaction and start to calculate and measure the actual rate of a given reaction and the precise position of equilibrium reactions. The unit introduces the idea of electrode potentials as a way of observing the movement of electrons in redox reactions.

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 5 Inorganic Chemistry

3.2.4 Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (A-level only)
3.2.5 Transition metals (A-level only)
3.2.6 Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (A-level only)

Unit 5 introduces further inorganic chemistry and looks at the behaviour of two further groups of the periodic table including the intriguing chemistry of the transition metals. The unit also looks at how ions dissolved in water behave and how reactions can occur within an aqueous solution.

Fast Track A Level Chemistry AQA (7405) Unit 6 Organic Chemistry

3.3.7 Optical isomerism (A-level only)
3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only)
3.3.9 Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry (A-level only)
3.3.11 Amines (A-level only)
3.3.12 Polymers (A-level only)
3.3.13 Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
3.3.14 Organic synthesis (A-level only)
3.3.15 Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (A-level only)
3.3.16 Chromatography (A-level only)

Unit 6 expands on the learner’s understanding of organic chemistry gained in the first year of the course.  Five new organic families are introduced and we also look at how organic molecules can be synthesised within the laboratory environment as well as how organic molecules relate to biological molecules such as DNA and proteins. We expand on organic analysis techniques and consider two new types of technique that can be used to identify organic compound.

Assessment

For the full A-Level you will sit three exam papers:

Paper 1

Content examined
• Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 to 3.1.8 and 3.1.10 to 3.1.12)
• Inorganic chemistry (section 3.2)
• Relevant practical skills Exam Details

Exam details
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 105 marks
• 35% of A-level

Questions
105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper 2

Content examined
• Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.2 to 3.1.6 and 3.1.9)
• Organic chemistry (section 3.3)
• Relevant practical skills

Exam Details
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 105 marks
• 35% of A-level

Questions
105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper 3

Content examined
• Any content
• Any practical skills

Exam Details
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 90 marks
• 30% of A-level

Questions
40 marks of questions on practical techniques and data analysis
20 marks of questions testing across the specification
30 marks of multiple choice questions

Qualification

The title of this qualification as will appear on certificates is the AQA A-Level Chemistry (7405)

All the exams must be taken and passed to achieve the full A-Level qualification The AS-level title as will appear on certificates is the AQA AS Chemistry (Specification number: 7405).

The AQA AS and A-Level are linear courses, which means that you will sit your exams at the end of your AS course (for AS students) or at the end of the full A-Level course (For full A-Level students)

Further Reading

CGP Revision Guide – New A-Level Chemistry: AQA Year 1 & AS Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition – 978 1 78294 287 0. AS LEVEL & A-LEVEL

CGP Revision Guide – New A-Level Chemistry: AQA Year 2 Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition– Due for release in September 2015, 978 1 78294 339 6 FULL A-LEVEL ONLY

Nicholls – AQA A Level Chemistry Year 1 7 AS Student Book – 978-0007590216– Publisher: Collins AS LEVEL & A-LEVEL

Bayley, Clark, Coppo – AQA A-Level Year 2 Student Book – 978-0007597635 – Publisher: Collins FULL A-LEVEL ONLY