Chemistry - Advanced Higher

Vale of Leven Academy

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

Question Paper

The question paper has 110 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 75% of the overall marks for the course assessment.

The question paper has 2 sections.

Section 1 contains multiple-choice questions and has 25 marks.

Section 2 contains restricted-response and extended-response questions and has 85 marks.

The majority of the marks are awarded for applying knowledge and understanding. The other marks are awarded for applying skills of scientific inquiry, scientific analytical thinking and problem solving.

The question paper gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• making accurate statements
• describing information, providing explanations and integrating knowledge
• applying knowledge of chemistry to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems
• planning and designing chemical experiments/investigations, including safety measures to make a discovery, demonstrate a known fact, illustrate particular effects or test a hypothesis
• selecting information from a variety of sources
• presenting information appropriately in a variety of forms
• processing information and data (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• making predictions and generalisations based on evidence and/or information
• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence and/or justification
• evaluating experiments and suggesting improvements

Project

The project has 25 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 25% of the overall marks for the course assessment.

The project allows candidates to carry out an in-depth investigation of a chemistry topic and produce a project report. Candidates are required to individually plan and carry out a chemistry investigation.

Candidates should keep a record of their work (lab book) as this will form the basis of their project report. This record should include details of their research, experiments and recorded data.

The project assesses the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related chemistry knowledge and understanding. It gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• extending and applying knowledge of chemistry to new situations, interpreting and analysing information to solve more complex problems
• planning, designing and safely carrying out chemical experiments/investigations, including risk assessments to make a discovery, demonstrate a known fact, illustrate particular effects or test a hypothesis
• recording systematic detailed observations and collecting data
• selecting information from a variety of sources
• presenting detailed information appropriately in a variety of forms
• processing and analysing chemical information and data (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• making reasoned predictions and generalisations from a range of evidence and/or information
• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence and/or justification
• critically evaluating experimental procedures by identifying sources of uncertainty and suggesting and implementing improvements
• drawing on knowledge and understanding of chemistry to make accurate statements, describe complex information, provide detailed explanations and integrate knowledge
• communicating chemical findings and information fully and effectively
• analysing and evaluating scientific publications and media reports

Project overview

Candidates carry out an in-depth investigation of a chemistry topic. Candidates choose their topic and individually investigate/research its underlying chemistry. Candidates must discuss potential topics with their teacher or lecturer to ensure that they do not waste time researching unsuitable topics. This is an open-ended task that may involve candidates carrying out a significant part of the work without close supervision.

Throughout the project candidates work autonomously, making independent and rational decisions based on evidence and interpretation of scientific information, which involves analysing and evaluating results. Through this, candidates further develop and enhance their scientific literacy skills.

The project offers challenge by requiring candidates to apply skills, knowledge and understanding in a context that is one or more of the following:

• unfamiliar
• familiar but investigated in greater depth
• integrating a number of familiar contexts

Candidates will produce a project report that has a logical structure.