National 5 Chemistry

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chemistry contributes to the quality of everyday life. Food, clothes and the environment are the results of Chemistry in action. Chemistry is about what things are made of and how we can change them.

The Course develops skills in scientific inquiry, investigation and analytical thinking, along with knowledge and understanding. Learners will gain an understanding of chemistry, and develop this through a variety of approaches, including practical activities. The units are;

Chemical Changes and Structure - average rates of reaction, neutralisation reactions, balanced chemical equations, the mole, formulae, reaction quantities and the connection between bonding and chemical properties of materials

Natures Chemistry – physical and chemical properties of cycloalkanes; branched chain alkanes and alkenes, straight chain alcohols and carboxylic acids; everyday consumer products, energy from different fuels.

Chemistry in Society  - chemistry of metals and their bonding, reactions and uses; the connection between bonding in plastics, their physical properties and their uses; the chemical reactions and processes used to make fertilisers.

Assessment

 An internally assessed prelim exam will be undertaken at the end of January. An assignment from a topic covered in the course will be completed by early March and an external exam sat in May. The externally marked assignment and external exam will be used to award a final grade.

WHAT WILL MY HOME COMMITMENT BE FOR THIS COURSE?

 Students can expect to be dong at least 1 1/2 hours of homework per week which will include the following:  Practical report writing,  Problem solving activities, Past paper revision

Is chemistry for me? 

You will enjoy this subject if: 

· You’d like to find out more about how the world is made.

· You’d like to find out more about how chemistry creates life.

· You enjoy real life and theoretical problem solving.

· You enjoy learning through practical experiments.