CHEMISTRY
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The Chemistry Advanced Level course is part of the A-level programme but also part of the Biological Sciences Foundation Course. The course is designed to to give you a background for the first year of your Bachelor degree in Chemistry and all biological disciplines including medicine and relevant fields, such as dietetics, pharmacy etc. It covers a wide range of topics. The course is delivered by class teaching at 6 hours per week over 30 weeks along with detailed notes that should be used as support study for the course. There are practical laboratory classes on top of the teaching classes and these run at weekends with optional attendance. The teaching programme is supported by teacher notes that aim to supplement the recommended textbook. There are frequent assessments and tests during the course to help you focus your attention to the key elements and to prepare you for the exams. Essential school mathematics (GCSE or Greek 1st year of Lykeion) are required to follow the quantitative work in Chemistry.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
- Edexcel AS Chemistry Student Book (Edexcel A Level Sciences): Students' Book with ActiveBook by Ann Fullick and Bob McDuell, 2008
- Edexcel A Level Science: A2 Chemistry Students' Book (Edexcel GCE Chemistry) by Ann Fullick and Bob McDuell, 2009COURSE OUTLINE:
formulae writing, equation writing and calculating chemical quantities
energetics in chemistry and its theoretical and practical importance
define, measure and calculate enthalpy changes
the study of enthalpy changes in helping chemists to understand chemical bonding
atomic structure introducing s, p and d orbitals
electron configurations and the arrangement of elements in the periodic table
types of strong chemical bonding (ionic, covalent and metallic)
Organic chemistry is also introduced with alkanes and alkenesintermediate types of bonding
the nature and effects of intermolecular forces
the chemistry of groups 2 and 7.
redox reactions in the reactions of halogens and their compounds. The unit develops a largely
qualitative understanding of the ways in which chemists can control the rate direction and extent of chemical change.
Organic chemistry: alcohols and halogenoalkanes.
use of formulae and balance equations and have an
understanding of chemical quantities
green chemistry and climate changequantitative study of chemical kinetics
organic reaction mechanisms
entropy and equilibria in predicting quantitatively the direction and extent of chemical change
organic chemistry : carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids and their derivatives
nomenclature, ideas of isomerism, bond polarity and bond enthalpy, reagents and reaction conditions, reaction types and mechanisms
use formulae and balance equations and calculate chemical quantitieselectrode potentialson the study of redox including the concept of oxidation number and the use of redox half equations
further chemistry related to redox and transition metals
further organic chemistry : arenes and organic nitrogen compounds such as amines, amides, amino acids and proteins.
use the knowledge and understanding of organic chemistry
ideas of isomerism, bond polarity and bond enthalpy, reagents and reaction conditions, reaction types and mechanisms
advnaced formulae and equation balance and calculation of chemical quantitiesThe course spans 30 weeks and is organised in a corresponding number of modules. Each moduleis supported by a set of downloadable notes which offer a brief description of what is done in class and also makes reference to corresponding material in the recommended textbook.