Chemistry

Board: Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Chemistry / Edexcel Combined Science

Pupils at Gresham’s can either complete GCSE Chemistry alongside separate GCSE qualifications in Biology and Physics, or they can choose to complete the Edexcel Double GCSE in Combined Science, equivalent to two GCSE grades.

The GCSE Chemistry course begins in Year 9 with the study of topics which are found in both the Chemistry GCSE and the Combined Science Course. Starting early provides the time to cover the material steadily and increase the pupil’s access to practical work. By the end of Year 9, pupils will have built a solid foundation on which to base their final two years of study. A thorough grounding in necessary practical skills and scientific principles is also provided during this year.

The full, separate science syllabus is split into 9 broad topic areas:

1. Key concepts in chemistry

2. States of matter and mixtures

3. Chemical changes

4. Extracting metals

5. Separate chemistry 1 (not studied by the combined scientists)

6. Groups in the periodic table

7. Rates of reaction

8. Fuels and Earth science

9. Separate chemistry 2 (not studied by the combined scientists)

Those studying either separate Chemistry or Combined Science will be ready for advanced study at the end of the course. The analytical and problem-solving skills taught and honed in chemistry are applicable across the GCSE curriculum and beyond.The analytical and problem-solving skills taught and honed in chemistry are applicable across the GCSE curriculum and beyond.

Apart from being a subject worthy of study in its own right, Chemistry is a prerequisite for many other courses in higher education, such as medicine, biological science, materials science and environmental science.

Entry requirements: Grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry or 6:6 in Combined Science or equivalent

The skills developed in Chemistry are extremely sought after. Chemists are problem solvers; they are trained to design novel solutions to problems and communicate them to others. Chemists display the qualities of inventiveness, imagination and communication that will be least vulnerable to replacement by computers in the future.

Any pupil considering studying Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science must study Chemistry. Other courses that benefit from studying the subject include natural sciences, (chemical) engineering, biochemical and biomedical sciences, pharmacology and a host of other science related degree courses. Indirectly, through the skills you learn while studying Chemistry, it is also great training for careers in law, business and finance, consultancy, investment banking, publishing and sales and marketing.

Chemistry is divided into three disciplines:

Organic – study of carbon-based molecules.

Inorganic – study of the rest of the periodic table.

Physical – study of the laws underlying what atoms and molecules do.

The course consists of three linear exams sat at the end of two years.

• Paper 1: 35% Physical and Inorganic Chemistry (short and long answer questions)
• Paper 2: 35% Physical and Organic Chemistry (short and long answer questions)
• Paper 3: 30% Practical techniques and Synoptic (data analysis and multiple-choice questions)

Exam board: AQA

Entry requirements: Grade 6 in Chemistry or 6:6 in Combined Science or equivalent

The skills developed in Chemistry are extremely sought after. Chemists are problem solvers; they are trained to design novel solutions to problems and communicate them to others. Chemists display the qualities of inventiveness, imagination and communication that will be least vulnerable to replacement by computers in the future.

Any pupil considering studying Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science must study Chemistry. Other courses that benefit from studying the subject include natural sciences, (chemical) engineering, biochemical and biomedical sciences, pharmacology and a host of other science related degree courses. Indirectly, through the skills you learn while studying Chemistry, it is also great training for careers in law, business and finance, consultancy, investment banking, publishing and sales and marketing.

Structure and Reactivity are the two overarching themes within IB. An outline of the topics taught within the two themes are shown below:

STRUCTURE

1.Models of the particulate nature of matter
• Introduction to the particulate nature of matter • The nuclear atom • Electron configurations • Counting particles by mass (the mole) • Ideal gases

2.Models of bonding and structure
• The ionic model Structure • The covalent model • The metallic model • From models to materials

3.Classification of matter
• The periodic table: Classification of elements • Functional groups: Classification of organic compounds

REACTIVITY

1. What drives chemical reactions?
   • Measuring enthalpy change Reactivity • Energy cycles in reactions • Energy from fuels Reactivity • Entropy and spontaneity (Additional higher level)
2. How much, how fast and how far?
   • How much? The amount of chemical change • How fast? The rate of chemical change • How far? The extent of chemical change
3. What are the mechanisms of chemical change?
   • Proton transfer reactions Reactivity • Electron transfer reactions • Electron sharing reactions • Electron-pair sharing reactions

Assessment:

Pupils will complete two exam papers at the end of the course:

Paper 1 – Multiple-choice questions and data-based questions. 1.5 hours for Standard Level and 2 hours for Higher level. This contributes 36% of the final grade.

Paper 2 – Data-based and short-answer questions and extended-response questions. 1.5 hours for Standard Level and 2.5 hours for Higher level. This contributes 44% of the final grade.

The remaining 20% of the grade is awarded for the scientific investigation. The scientific investigation is an open-ended task in which the pupil gathers and analyses data in order to answer their own formulated research question. The outcome of the scientific investigation will be assessed through the form of a written report.