A Level Chemistry Resources
Read our articles and resources to find out more about doing A level chemistry, including revision guides covering A level topics and information about studying chemistry A level.
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that have double bonds shared by two carbons. This means that not all of the carbon atom bonds are connected to hydrogen atoms. Therefore, more hydrogen atoms can be added to make the hydrocarbon saturated.
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. This means that each carbon atom is single-bonded to another carbon atom. Alkanes exist in straight chain, branched (isomeric), and cyclic forms. You can use a general formula to determine the specific formulas based on the number of carbon atoms. You can also easily name alkanes using the IUPAC standards.
Organic chemistry is somewhere between inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. While it focuses on carbon-based substances, it isn’t concerned with the biological processes that produce many of the organic compounds that it studies.
Part of the syllabus for A level organic chemistry is the study of alcohols. When you come to revise this group of organic substances, it’s crucial to learn about their general structures, functional groups, chemical properties, physical properties, and reactions. Continue reading for an overview of each of these topics so that you can enter the classroom more prepared. What…
Also known as haloalkanes and alkyl halides, halogenoalkanes are organic compounds derived from alkanes, but with one hydrogen substituted for a halogen. They’re part of a much larger category known as halocarbons. Hydrocarbons with more than one hydrogen substituted by a halogen are called halogenated hydrocarbons. Halogenoalkanes have several commercial and industrial applications. For example, these compounds are commonly used…
Many inorganic metallic compounds take the form of ions when dissolved in water (i.e. an aqueous solution). The laws that govern their reactions are similar to how compounds react, but with one important emphasis on the role of water in the reactions…
The transition metals, or transition elements, are those belonging to groups 3 to 12 in the periodic table, with the exception of the lanthanides and actinides, which have their own periodicity properties…
Period 3 elements are those in the third row of the periodic table. The way period 3 elements form oxides, and how they react with other chemicals, is related to their positions in the periodic table. Furthermore, you can compare the relative atomic radius, ionisation energy, and electron affinity of the eight period 3 elements…
The halogens are the six nonmetallic, highly reactive elements under Group VIIa (column 17) of the periodic table. They’re very strong oxidising agents, which means they take electrons from other substances. They’re also very reactive and usually form salts with Group 1a, i.e. the alkali metals. The name halogen literally means…
Alkaline earth metals, which are under Group 2 (the second column) of the periodic table, are highly reactive metals, though they’re not as reactive as the alkali metals. Their high reactivity is the main reason they aren’t found in a pure or elemental form in nature. Structurally speaking, these metals have two valence electrons in their outermost energy level…
Many elements were discovered long before the periodicity of elements was established by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. Mendeleev arranged the then-known elements in tabular form and discerned a pattern. With this, he was able to predict the existence of elements that had not yet been discovered…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Electrode Potentials And Electrochemical Cells
One of the most important applications of chemistry is storing electrical energy for prolonged periods of time. Modern technological products like laptops, mobile phones, solar power, and hybrid cars would not have been possible without the invention of batteries, which are basically electrochemical storage devices that have two electrodes and an electrolyte…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Equilibrium Constant Kp For Homogeneous Systems
Analysing the chemical reactions of gases in homogeneous systems may seem daunting at first. Unlike a liquid solution, the volume of gas isn’t constant, so determining the concentration of specific gas reactants is difficult when you base it on volume. This is where the concepts related to the equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems of gases come into play. However,…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Rate Equations
Determining the rate of chemical reactions can be done using rate equations, no matter what type of chemical reaction is taking place. Rate equations are crucial diagnostic tools that are used to analyse the efficiency of chemical reactions. For example, rate equations can be used by chemical manufacturing companies who need their processes to be as efficient as possible so that they can maximise profits while minimising waste, time, and effort…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is the study of how energy, particularly heat, dissipates in a system, and how the mass of substances flows as they’re converted from one form to another. In chemistry, thermodynamics is focused on how energy is transferred and transformed during chemical reactions. Studying thermodynamics allows A level chemistry students to understand how energy flows in a system. Your revision…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Chemical Equilibria, Le Chatelier’s Principle & Kc
Chemical equilibrium is achieved when the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the backward reaction. In other words, it’s the state of a system where the concentration of the reactants and products are constant, i.e. they do not change with time…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Energetics
If you’re revising energetics for your upcoming chemistry A level exam, it’s important to reinforce your knowledge of physics and maths. You’ll encounter a lot of questions in your A level chemistry exam that will require you to compute the energy involved in chemical reactions, so understanding the right units of measurement, conversions, constants, and equation manipulations is crucial.
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Bonding
Chemical reactions are about breaking and making bonds between atoms, which changes the way atoms share electrons. Bonds can be ionic, covalent, polar, or metallic. Bonding determines the molecular structure and physical properties of a substance. Chemical bonding is determined by various factors, like the number of valence electrons and the ionisation energy.
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Amount Of Substance
In chemistry, accurately and precisely measuring the amount of substance is crucial in virtually every task, which is why it’s an important topic at A level…
A Level Chemistry Revision: Physical Chemistry – Atomic Structure
The topics you study at A level chemistry will build on the knowledge you gained in GCSE chemistry, and one of the topics you’ll explore more thoroughly is atomic structure. This involves learning how the modern atomic model has developed over time, from Dalton’s atomic theory, to Thomson’s, Rutherford’s, and Bohr’s atomic models, and how these scientists paved the way for Schrödinger’s Quantum Mechanical model of the atom.
What Do You Learn in Chemistry A Level?
In chemistry A level, you’ll learn the fundamentals of physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry. You’ll also deepen your understanding of key topics you studied at chemistry GCSE, like atomic structure and bonding. The areas you’ll study in chemistry A level are crucial in preparing you for university, equipping you with the in-depth knowledge and skills you need to…
Why Do A Level Chemistry?
If you’re passionate about chemistry and want to pursue it at university and beyond, you need to pass A level chemistry. This is your ticket for admission to a prestigious university, and will pave the way for the chemistry career of your dreams. Continue reading to discover what subjects are covered in A level chemistry. Why Do A Level Chemistry? Earning…
