Why do we learn chemistry?
Head of Department
Our approach
Year 12
Year 13

Why do we learn chemistry?

Chemistry has a huge impact on a range of modern concepts that affect us each and every day. Recent developments in climate change, health and the pharmaceutical industry are down to research within the field of chemistry. Studying the Bolingbroke Academy Chemistry course will give pupils an insight into these advancements as well developing the problem-solving and analytical skills required on many University courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacology.

Head of Department

Head of Science

Ms E Duncan

e.duncan@arkbolingbrokeacademy.org

Our approach

The Chemistry course is based around three fundamental chemical concepts; physical chemistry, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Within these strands pupils will develop the understanding of atomic structure, bonding, energetics and kinetics that they gained at GCSE level. More in depth concepts such as Le Chatelier’s principle, thermodynamics, isomerism and spectroscopy will also be explored.

Additional activities within this subject:

  • Opportunities to attend Chemistry inspiration lectures.
  • Trips to and links with universities to help you decide that all important next step.
  • Visit to The Gurdon Institute to study the chemistry of development, and how normal growth and maintenance go wrong in cancer and other diseases.
  • Subject tutorial support sessions.

Year 12

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Physical Chemistry 

Atomic Structure

  • Mass, Atomic number & isotopes
  • Mass Spectroscopy
  • Electron Arrangement
  • Ionisation Energy

Amount of Substance

  • Avogadro’s constant
  • Moles and Concentration  
  • Atom economy & % yield
  • Ideal gas law

Bonding

  • Ionic  
  • Covalent
  • Metallic
  • Intermolecular forces

Physical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

Energetics  

  • Exothermic & Endothermic reactions
  • Hess’s Law

Redox

  • Oxidation  
  • Reduction  
  • Redox equations  
  • Electrochemical cells

Periodicity  

  • Trends in period 3
  • Group 2 Physical and chemical properties
  • Chemical reactions of halogens  
Spring 1 Spring 2

Physical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry

Thermodynamics

  • Born Haber cycles
  • Spontaneity

Kinetics

  • Collision theory  
  • Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution
  • Rate equation  
  • Order of reaction  
  • The Arrhenius equation
  • Rate determining step

Organic Chemistry  

  • Alkanes  
  • Halogenoalkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Mechanisms
  • Isomers 

Organic Chemistry 

Alcohols  

  • Making Ethanol
  • Elimination reactions
  • Dehydrating alcohols  

Organic Analysis

  • Test tube reactions
  • Mass Spec
  • Infrared Spec Equilibria

Equilibria  

  • Le Chatelier  
  • Kc
  • Kp  
  • Equilibrium constants 
Summer 1 Summer 2

Physical Chemistry 

Acids and Bases • Weak acids and bases • Acid Base titrations • Choice on indicators • Buffers  Revision 

 Revision and consolidation.

All Year 12 subjects Next Year 12 Subject - Physics

Year 13

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry

Periodicity

  • Reactions of period 3  
  • Oxides of period 3  
  • Transition metal properties  
  • Transition metal complexes  
  • Catalysts
  • Acid base substitution  
  • Test tube reactions  

Nomenclature and Isomerism  

  • Optical Isomerism
  • Synthesis of optically active compounds

Aldehydes and ketones

  • Reactions of carbonyl group
  • Carboxylic acids and Ester
  • Acetylation  

Organic Chemistry 

Aromatic Chemistry

  • Arenes
  • Amines

Biochemistry

  • Polymerisation
  • DNA
  • Proteins
  • Enzymes

Organic Analysis

  • NMR

Chromatography

  • TLC
  • Column Chromatography
  • GC Chromatography 
Spring
Revision for final exams.

All Year 13 subjects Next Year 13 Subject - Physics