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Welcome to Chemistry in the Sixth Form at CHS
Welcome to Chemistry in the Sixth Form at CHS
I am Rachel Grey and welcome to the Chemistry Department. In the Sixth Form we use the AQA exam board.
The A-level course takes a more in depth approach to Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, and allows students to make connections between these three branches of the subject.
The aim of the course is to allow students to develop essential knowledge and understanding of the concepts of Chemistry, and the skills needed for the use of these in new and challenging situations. Students gain an understanding of the link between theory and experiment and become aware of how advances in ICT and instrumentation are used in Chemistry. Students appreciate the contribution of the subject to society and the responsible use of scientific knowledge and evidence. The course aims to develop and sustain students’ enjoyment of and interest in Chemistry. A-Level takes a much more in depth approach to Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, and allows students to make connections between these three branches of the subject.
Lower Sixth
Lower Sixth
There are 9 periods a fortnight split 5/4 between two teachers. Teacher one (5 periods) covers the following topics:
Atomic structure and ionisation energy
Structure and bonding
Periodicity
Energetics
Redox reactions and Group 7
Group 2
Equilibria and Kinetics
Whilst teacher two (4 periods) covers the following:
Amount of substance (moles)
Organic Chemistry looking at alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes and alcohols.
There is no coursework but students do have to keep a lab book to record experiments that cover the required practicals and the overall practical competencies.
Upper Sixth
Upper Sixth
In the Upper Sixth there are 10 periods per fortnight, 5 for each teacher. Teacher one covers the following:
pH, acids and bases
Equilibria including Kp
Kinetics and rate equations
Thermodynamics including entropy (disorder)
Electrochemistry
Periodicity
Whilst teacher two covers:
Organic Chemistry involving carbonyls, aromatic molecules, amines, amino acids, proteins, DNA, polymers and spectroscopy.
Transition metal chemistry
More practical work is completed and competencies are recorded and ticked off as understood so that a student can be awarded a practical "pass".
FAQs
FAQs
Do I have to be really good at Maths to study Chemistry?
Do I have to be really good at Maths to study Chemistry?
You just have to have a good feel for numbers, can rearrange equations, are familiar with standard form and can manipulate units. Something like realising moles = mass/Mr needs the mass in grams. So if given 23.5 Kg this is 23500 g. Or 459 mg is 0.459 g.
How is A Level different from GCSE?
How is A Level different from GCSE?
For A Level you REALLY have to understand the subject to be able to succeed. The bar is pretty high in terms of answering questions with the right language and level of accuracy. For example saying "mass number is the number of protons + neutrons in an element" would get no marks as the word "element" is not the right one to choose here. Writing "mass number is the number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom" is correct.
Are there any GCSE requirements?
Are there any GCSE requirements?
For Single Chemistry GCSE students a grade 8 or higher is ideal. Chemistry A-Level is a very challenging course so if a student achieves a grade 7 then there would be a consultation involving the student's teacher to allow a judgement to be made on the suitability of the student for the course.
For Dual Science Chemistry students an 8,8 grade is ideal with the Chemistry part of that also being a grade 8. Likewise for Single GCSE students, if the grade is 8,7 or 7,7 then once again there would be a consultation about the suitability of the student for the course.
The Chemistry Team.
The Chemistry Team.
Rachel Grey | Head of Chemistry - rachelgrey@chschool.co.uk
Dr Anne Carlin
Dr Helen Moylan
Andrew Nolan
Stuart Taylor
Dr Sophie Williams
Jonathan Mitchell
Please contact our Head of Department if you have any further questions.
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