Shared course with Biology and Physics in the curricular area. 

Topics covered include: 

• Matter 

• Sustaining Life

• Finding a planet

• CSI Clydebank

• Reproduction

• Visible and Beyond

Shared course with Biology and Physics in the curricular area. 

Topics covered include: 

• Hunger

• Alive

• Electricity

• Using Natural Materials

• Outbreak

• Dynamics

Topics include:

• Rates of reaction

• Atomic structure 

• Bonding related to properties

• Formulae and Reacting Quantities

• Acids and bases.

The course provides a broad experience of Chemistry.

The course aims to:

• Develop scientific and analytical thinking skills in a Chemistry context.

• Develop an understanding of the role of Chemistry in scientific issues.

• Acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of concepts in Chemistry.

• Develop understanding of relevant applications of Chemistry in Society.

In addition to scientific skills, learners will continue to develop and acquire the capabilities of the four capacities as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. They will continue to develop their skills in literacy, numeracy and communication.

To achieve a National 4 award in Chemistry pupils must pass all the required units and the added value unit. There is no final exam, and the course is not graded.

Internal Assessment

All Units are internally assessed against the requirements shown in the Unit Specification. They will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

The assessment of the Units in this Course will be as follows:

Chemical Changes and Structure

The key areas covered in this Unit are:

• rates of reaction

• atomic structure and bonding related to properties of materials

• energy changes of chemical reactions

• acids and bases

Nature’s Chemistry

The key areas covered in this Unit are:

• fuels

• hydrocarbons

• everyday consumer products

• plants to products

Chemistry in Society

The key areas in this Unit are:

• metals and alloys

• materials

• fertilisers

• nuclear chemistry

• chemical analysis

The course provides a broad experience of Chemistry

The course aims to:

• Develop scientific and analytical thinking skills in a Chemistry context.

• Develop an understanding of the role of Chemistry in scientific issues.

• Acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of concepts in Chemistry.

• Develop understanding of relevant applications of Chemistry in society.

• Develop problem solving skills in a Chemistry context.

In addition to scientific skills, learners will continue to develop and acquire the capabilities of the four capacities as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. They will continue to develop their skills in literacy, numeracy and communication.

​

To achieve a National 5 award in Chemistry pupils must pass all the required units as well as the course assessment. The added value unit will focus on breadth, challenge and application. The added value unit and the exam will be externally assessed.

Mandatory Units:

 Chemical Changes and Structure

In this unit, pupils will study the pH scale and the uses of acids in food and drink. Pupils will investigate neutralisation reactions and their impact on health and the environment. They will also study the structure of the atom and patterns in the periodic table.

Nature’s Chemistry

In this unit, pupils will study the formation, extraction and uses of hydrocarbons. Pupils will look at the environmental impact of fuels and how alternative energy sources, including biomass, hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel are being developed. Topical areas of work include the use of alcoholic drinks in our world and their production.

Chemistry in Society

In this unit pupils will study the properties of metals and their uses. Pupils will discover how fertilisers are produced and how they have benefited society. Through experimentation students will learn about the development of batteries and fuel cells which will help power our future energy needs. Pupils will also learn about the development and design of new materials such as plastics and ceramics.

Added Value Unit

In this unit, pupils will draw on and extend the skills they have learned from across the other units and demonstrate the breadth of knowledge and skills acquired in a topical Chemistry issue.

Course Assessment:

Component 1 - External Exam

The question paper will have two Sections and will take place over 2 hours as the External Exam.

Section 1 Multiple Choice worth 20 marks.

Section 2 will contain restricted and extended response questions and will have 60 marks.

Component 2 - Assignment

The assignment will have 20 marks out of a total of 100 marks. This is 20% of the overall marks for the Course assessment.

This assignment has two stages:

• a research stage

• a communication stage

During their assignment, learners are required to:

• choose, with support, a relevant topic in chemistry that has an effect on the environment and/or society

• devise an appropriate aim

• describe the relevant application(s) of chemistry and explain the effect on the environment/society

• research the topic by selecting, processing and presenting relevant data/information

• draw a conclusion

• describe underpinning chemistry knowledge and understanding and explain its relevance to the topic researched

• communicate the findings of the research in a report

A one-year Course for students who wish to continue their study of Chemistry beyond National 5 Chemistry.

The Higher (CfE) Chemistry Course.

• Contributes to improved knowledge and understanding of the physical and natural world. Giving pupils an understanding of Scientific issues in a national and global context

• Is an essential or preferred option for careers such as Medicine, Dentistry, Vet, Optician, Forensic Scientist, Physiotherapist, Chemist, Pharmacologist, Chemical Engineer.

• Continues to develop problem solving capabilities alongside the skills of Numeracy and Literacy.

​

Course Content

Chemical Changes and Structures

The unit covers the knowledge and understanding of controlling reaction rates and recognising periodic trends. Pupils will investigate collision theory and the use of catalysts in reactions. The concepts of electronegativity and the various types of bonding will be developed allowing connections to be made between bonding and a material’s physical properties.

Nature’s Chemistry

The unit covers the knowledge and understanding of organic chemistry within the context of food and the chemistry of consumer products soaps, detergents, fragrances and skincare. The relationship between the structure of organic compounds, their physical and chemical properties and their uses are investigated.

Chemistry in Society

The unit covers the knowledge and understanding of physical chemistry. Learners will calculate quantities of reagents and products and percentage yield. Pupils will develop their skills to manipulate dynamic equilibria and predict enthalpy changes. Pupils will also investigate oxidation and reduction reactions in analytical chemistry through the context of volumetric titrations.

Researching Chemistry

Pupils will research the relevance of a topical issue by collecting and synthesising information from a number of sources. In relation to the topical issue and using practical skills developed over a number of years pupils will also plan and undertake an investigation and communicate their findings at the end.

​

Course Assessment

The course assessment will consist of two components: a question paper and an assignment.

Component 1 - External Exam

The purpose of the question paper is to assess breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding from across the Units.

The question paper will have 100 marks (80% of the total mark) and will have two sections.

Section 1 - Multiple Choice will have 20 marks.

Section 2 - 'Paper 2' will contain restricted and extended response questions and will have 80 marks.

Component 2 - Assignment

The assignment will have 20 marks scaled to 25 marks (20% of the total marks)

In preparation for the controlled assessment, the pupil will carry out an investigation stage:

• select an appropriate chemistry topic within the set guidelines provided by SQA

• investigate/research the topic, focusing on applications and impact on society

• process the information collected

In the controlled assessment stage, the pupil will present evidence of:

• the process they have undertaken

• chemistry knowledge and understanding related to the topic investigated

• the application of the topic

• a balanced evaluation of the impact on society

• a reasoned conclusion

The course is suitable for candidates who are secure in their attainment of Higher Chemistry or equivalent qualifications. It is designed for candidates who can respond to a level of challenge, especially those considering further study or a career in chemistry and related disciplines.

 The course emphasises practical and experiential learning opportunities, with a strong skills-based approach to learning. It takes account of the needs of all candidates and provides sufficient flexibility to enable candidates to achieve in different ways.

Course content

The course content includes the following areas of chemistry:

Inorganic chemistry

The topics covered are:

·       electromagnetic radiation and atomic spectra

·       atomic orbitals, electronic configurations and the periodic table

·       transition metals

Physical chemistry

The topics covered are:

·       chemical equilibrium

·       reaction feasibility

·       kinetics

Organic chemistry and instrumental analysis

The topics covered are:

·       molecular orbitals

·       synthesis

·       stereo chemistry

·       experimental determination of structure

·       pharmaceutical chemistry

Researching chemistry

 The topics covered are:

·       common chemical apparatus

·       skills involved in experimental work

·       stoichiometric calculations

·       gravimetric analysis

·       volumetric analysis

·       practical skills and techniques

Course Assessment

The course assessment will consist of two components: a question paper and an assignment.

Component 1 - External Exam

The purpose of the question paper is to assess breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding from across the Units.

The question paper will have 100 marks (75% of the total mark) and will have two sections.

Section 1 - Multiple Choice will have 25 marks.

Section 2 - 'Paper 2' will contain restricted and extended response questions and will have 75 marks.

Component 2 - Project

The assignment will have 25 marks scaled to 34 marks (25% of the total marks)

National 5 Skills for Work: Laboratory Science is an introductory qualification. The course provides a broad experiential introduction to laboratory science. Learners will explore a variety of industries and services, and career opportunities, in science laboratories locally, nationally, and globally.

They will develop the basic practical skills and knowledge needed for working in a laboratory: measuring, weighing and preparing compounds and solutions; and health and safety requirements. Practical skills in microbiology, measuring radioactivity, chemical handling and laboratory instrumentation will be developed.

This course is internally assessed.