Chemistry

Why study this subject?

A Level chemistry is an exciting course which is academically demanding. It is well regarded by universities and employers as chemistry students demonstrate an excellent ability to understanding recall complex concepts, relating different elements of the course to come to reliable conclusions. Students will develop their analytical skills to present information that leads to convincing conclusions, being able to justify their views and identify the limits to which evidence presented can be judged. The mathematical demand involved in A Level chemistry produces students who are confident processing data and commenting on the precision of apparatus used and the errors included. As an experimental subject, students gain core practical skills that are transferable and demonstrate accuracy and care. Everything you see, touch, taste, or smell, involves chemistry in some way. As the central science subject, chemistry fits well with biology and physics. Chemists will be needed to help tackle problems of the future, such as synthesising the latest wonder drug, finding more environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics and non-renewable fuels, devising better batteries and batt ling climate change. In an ever changing world, students will need to be flexible, independent and creative. Chemistry requires and develops these traits which leads graduates of the subject to be in great demand.

Course Overview

Chemistry is split into three main modules; Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry.

Inorganic chemistry includes the properties of the atom and how this relates to trends in reactivity across the periodic table, with a particular focus on the alkali metals in group 1, alkaline earth metals in group 2, halogens in group 7 and the transitions metals. Organic chemistry concentrates on the reactions of carbon, leading to how different molecules can be synthesised.

The mechanism of each reaction is justified and how we test of the functional groups in new compounds. Physical chemistry looks at how data from experimental work is used in calculations leading to thermodynamic evidence which give an insight into the workings of each reaction.

Practical work is key to chemistry and students will gain many skills, working independently and as part of a group. Experimental skills are monitored and evaluated leading to the students passing the core practical competencies element of the A Level course.

Entry Requirements

(I)GCSE grade 8 or above in chemistry, or 8,8 in double science, and a grade 7 or above in mathematics.