Subject · GCSE and A level
Chemistry
Which schools in England make Chemistry a big part of the curriculum, and where results are strongest. Entries and grades from the 2025 performance tables.
What the data says
Chemistry GCSE was taken in 3,480 schools in England in 2025, with 159,526 entries — about 23% of the Year 11 cohort.
Nationally 47% of entries achieved grade 7 or above. The tables below show the schools where the largest share of pupils take the subject, and where grades are highest (schools with at least 20 entries).
At St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School (Bromley) 100% of the year group took Chemistry.
At A level, Chemistry was offered in 2,413 schools and colleges, with 51,834 entries — roughly 17% of A level students.
GCSE: schools with the highest share of grades 7–9
Schools with at least 20 entries. England: 47% of entries graded 7–9. High grades often reflect who is admitted (selective and independent schools) as much as teaching.
| # | School | Local authority | Entries | Cohort | Share | Grades 7–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilson's School | Sutton | 180 | 186 | 97% | 100% |
| 2 | Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet | Barnet | 171 | 193 | 89% | 100% |
| 3 | Hethersett Academy | Norfolk | 45 | 223 | 20% | 100% |
| 4 | West London Free School | Hammersmith and Fulham | 32 | 134 | 24% | 100% |
| 5 | Pocklington School | East Riding of Yorkshire | 31 | 90 | 34% | 100% |
| 6 | Mossbourne Community Academy | Hackney | 30 | 206 | 15% | 100% |
| 7 | Jane Austen College | Norfolk | 29 | 176 | 16% | 100% |
| 8 | St George's Catholic School | Westminster | 28 | 169 | 17% | 100% |
| 9 | Eden Boys' School, Birmingham | Birmingham | 27 | 122 | 22% | 100% |
| 10 | The St Thomas the Apostle College | Southwark | 26 | 161 | 16% | 100% |
| 11 | Gordon's School | Surrey | 26 | 127 | 20% | 100% |
| 12 | Chiltern Academy | Luton | 26 | 231 | 11% | 100% |
| 13 | Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East | Birmingham | 26 | 123 | 21% | 100% |
| 14 | Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham | Birmingham | 24 | 120 | 20% | 100% |
| 15 | Hasmonean High School for Boys | Barnet | 20 | 111 | 18% | 100% |
| 16 | Brighton College | Brighton and Hove | 147 | 217 | 68% | 99% |
| 17 | King Edward VI High School for Girls | Birmingham | 77 | 84 | 92% | 99% |
| 18 | Radley College | Oxfordshire | 74 | 154 | 48% | 99% |
| 19 | St Helen and St Katharine | Oxfordshire | 74 | 98 | 76% | 99% |
| 20 | Salesian School, Chertsey | Surrey | 53 | 276 | 19% | 98% |
| 21 | The Henrietta Barnett School | Barnet | 104 | 104 | 100% | 98% |
| 22 | The Holt School | Wokingham | 47 | 240 | 20% | 98% |
| 23 | The Tiffin Girls' School | Kingston upon Thames | 175 | 176 | 99% | 98% |
| 24 | Hampton School | Richmond upon Thames | 200 | 204 | 98% | 98% |
| 25 | Hall Cross Academy | Doncaster | 37 | 301 | 12% | 97% |
| 26 | St Mary's Catholic School | Hertfordshire | 31 | 185 | 17% | 97% |
| 27 | Churcher's College | Hampshire | 61 | 144 | 42% | 97% |
| 28 | King Edward VI School | Warwickshire | 90 | 90 | 100% | 97% |
| 29 | Brampton Manor Academy | Newham | 88 | 361 | 24% | 97% |
| 30 | Dartford Grammar School | Kent | 159 | 179 | 89% | 96% |
| 31 | Chesterton Community College | Cambridgeshire | 79 | 190 | 42% | 96% |
| 32 | Reading School | Reading | 149 | 149 | 100% | 96% |
| 33 | Belmont Community School | County Durham | 23 | 142 | 16% | 96% |
| 34 | Ashford School | Kent | 23 | 79 | 29% | 96% |
| 35 | Alleyn's School | Southwark | 140 | 155 | 90% | 95% |
| 36 | Ashcroft Technology Academy | Wandsworth | 60 | 238 | 25% | 95% |
| 37 | Finham Park School | Coventry | 54 | 237 | 23% | 94% |
| 38 | Ark Pioneer Academy | Barnet | 53 | 177 | 30% | 94% |
| 39 | Sir Christopher Hatton Academy | North Northamptonshire | 34 | 249 | 14% | 94% |
| 40 | Lady Eleanor Holles School | Richmond upon Thames | 98 | 110 | 89% | 94% |
A level: schools and colleges where the largest share of students take Chemistry
Entries as a share of A level students (at least 30 A level students and 10 entries). England: 17% of A level students.
What pupils learn in Chemistry, stage by stage
England has no national year-by-year syllabus: exam boards and schools set the order within each stage. These are the statutory blocks from the Department for Education, so a parent can see what a child meets in Years 7–9, what every GCSE candidate must cover, and what waits in the sixth form.
Years 7–9Key Stage 3
not offered as a separate subjectYears 10–11GCSE
181learning outcomes · statutory GCSE subject content; Higher-tier-only outcomes are markedYear 12A level, typically first year
44learning outcomes · content also examined at ASYear 13A level, second year
23learning outcomes · A level-only contentWhat GCSE Chemistry teaches · Years 10–11
181 learning outcomes from the Department for Education’s statutory subject content, grouped by topic. Each outcome belongs to one of twelve fields of knowledge used across startfrom.today: Natural Sciences (109), Mathematics & Statistics (33), Engineering & Manufacturing (22), Green & Sustainability (15) and others. Exam boards add detail on top of these; the outcomes themselves are the same whichever board a school uses.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table16
- describe the atom as a nucleus surrounded by electrons — atomic structure, nucleus
- recall the typical size of atoms and small molecules — atomic size, order of magnitude
- describe how the atomic model has changed over time — atomic model, history of science
- recall relative charges and masses of protons, neutrons and electrons — electron, neutron, proton
- calculate numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms and ions — atomic number, mass number
- explain how an element's position in the periodic table relates to its electrons — electron configuration, periodic table
- explain how isotopes changed Mendeleev's arrangement of the periodic table — isotope, periodic table history
- use element names and symbols to write formulae and balanced equations — balanced equation, chemical formula
- explain how the reactions of elements relate to their electron arrangement — electron arrangement, reactivity
- recall the simple properties of Groups 1, 7 and 0 — group 0, group 1, group 7
- explain how properties of Groups 1, 7 and 0 depend on outer shell electrons — group trend, outer shell electron
- predict properties of elements from trends down a group — group prediction, periodic trend
- predict reactions and reactivity of elements from their position in the periodic table — periodic table, reactivity prediction
- describe metals and non-metals and explain their differences — metal, non-metal
- explain how the atomic structure of metals and non-metals relates to the periodic table — atomic structure, periodic table position
- recall the general properties of transition metals — catalyst, transition metal
Structure, bonding and the properties of matter24
- recall the main features of the particle model for states of matter — particle model, state of matter
- distinguish between physical and chemical changes — chemical change, physical change
- explain limitations of the particle model when particles are shown as inelastic spheres — limitation, particle model
- explain how bond strength and intermolecular forces affect temperatures of state change — change of state, intermolecular force
- use data to predict the state of a substance under given conditions — melting and boiling point, state of matter
- describe the arrangement of chemical bonds in ionic, covalent and metallic structures — covalent bond, ionic bond, metallic bond
- explain chemical bonding in terms of electrostatic forces and electron transfer or sharing — electron transfer, electrostatic force
- construct dot and cross diagrams for ionic and covalent substances — dot and cross diagram
- describe limitations of models such as dot and cross diagrams and ball and stick models — ball and stick model, model limitation
- explain how bulk properties of materials relate to their bond type and arrangement — bond arrangement, bulk property
- recall that carbon can form four covalent bonds — carbon, covalent bond
- explain why carbon forms families of similar organic compounds, chains and rings — carbon chain, organic compound
- explain properties of diamond, graphite, fullerenes and graphene from bonding — diamond, graphene, graphite
- compare nanoparticle dimensions to typical atoms and molecules — nanoparticle, scale
- describe how surface area to volume ratio affects the properties of particles — particle size, surface area to volume ratio
- describe how the properties of nanoparticulate materials relate to their uses — material application, nanoparticle
- explain risks associated with nanoparticulate materials — health risk, nanoparticle
- relate size and scale of atoms to objects in the physical world — order of magnitude, scale
- translate information between diagrammatic and numerical forms — diagrammatic representation, numerical data
- represent three-dimensional chemical structures in two dimensions — 2d representation, 3d structure
- estimate the size and scale of atoms and nanoparticles — nanoparticle scale, size estimation
- calculate with numbers in standard form for nanoparticles — nanoparticle, standard form
- use ratios to compare relative sizes and surface area to volume — ratio, surface area to volume
- calculate surface areas and volumes of cubes — surface area, volume of a cube
Chemical changes25
- use chemical symbols to write formulae of elements and compounds — chemical formula, chemical symbol
- deduce the empirical formula of a compound from relative numbers of atoms — empirical formula
- write balanced chemical equations using conservation of mass — balanced equation, conservation of mass
- use the formulae of common ions to deduce the formula of a compound — ionic formula
- write balanced ionic equations — ionic equation
- describe the physical states of products and reactants using state symbols — state symbol
- describe tests to identify oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and chlorine — gas test
- recall that acids react with metals and carbonates — acid reaction, carbonate
- write equations predicting products of acid reactions — acid reaction, product prediction
- recall that acids form hydrogen ions and alkalis form hydroxide ions in solution — hydrogen ion, hydroxide ion
- recall that relative acidity and alkalinity are measured by pH — ph scale
- describe neutralisation as acid reacting with alkali to form a salt and water — neutralisation, salt
- explain neutralisation in terms of hydrogen and hydroxide ions forming water — ionic equation, neutralisation
- use the terms dilute, concentrated, weak and strong in relation to acids — acid concentration, acid strength
- recall that pH decreases by one as hydrogen ion concentration increases tenfold — hydrogen ion concentration, ph scale
- describe neutrality and acidity in terms of hydrogen ion concentration — hydrogen ion concentration, ph
- explain how the reactivity of a metal relates to its tendency to form positive ions — ion formation, reactivity series
- deduce an order of reactivity of metals from experimental results — experimental evidence, reactivity series
- describe electrolysis in terms of ions present and reactions at the electrodes — electrode reaction, electrolysis
- recall that metals are formed at the cathode and non-metals at the anode in electrolysis — anode, cathode
- predict the products of electrolysis of molten ionic compounds — electrolysis, molten ionic compound
- describe competing reactions in the electrolysis of aqueous ionic solutions — aqueous solution, electrolysis
- explain reduction and oxidation in terms of gain or loss of oxygen — oxidation, reduction
- explain reduction and oxidation in terms of gain or loss of electrons — electron transfer, redox reaction
- use arithmetic computation and ratio to determine empirical formulae and balance equations — empirical formula, ratio
Energy changes in chemistry10
- distinguish between endothermic and exothermic reactions — endothermic reaction, exothermic reaction
- draw a reaction profile identifying activation energy — activation energy, reaction profile
- explain activation energy as the energy needed for a reaction to occur — activation energy
- calculate energy changes in a reaction from bond making and breaking energies — bond energy, energy change
- recall that crude oil is a source of hydrocarbons for the petrochemical industry — crude oil, petrochemical industry
- explain how modern life depends on hydrocarbons as a finite resource — finite resource, hydrocarbon
- recall that a chemical cell produces a potential difference until reactants are used up — chemical cell, potential difference
- evaluate advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells — fuel cell, hydrogen
- calculate energy changes using arithmetic computation — energy change calculation
- interpret charts and graphs of reaction profiles — graph interpretation, reaction profile
The rate and extent of chemical change17
- suggest practical methods for determining the rate of a reaction — experimental method, rate of reaction
- interpret rate of reaction graphs — rate graph
- describe the effect of temperature, concentration, pressure and area on reaction rate — rate of reaction, reaction condition
- explain effects of temperature, concentration and pressure on rate using collision theory — collision theory, reaction rate
- explain the effect of surface area on rate of reaction using surface area to volume ratio — reaction rate, surface area to volume ratio
- describe the characteristics of catalysts and their effect on rate of reaction — catalyst, reaction rate
- identify catalysts in reactions — catalyst identification
- explain catalytic action in terms of activation energy — activation energy, catalyst
- recall that enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems — biological catalyst, enzyme
- recall that some reactions may be reversed by altering reaction conditions — reversible reaction
- recall that dynamic equilibrium occurs when forward and reverse reaction rates are equal — dynamic equilibrium
- predict the effect of changing reaction conditions on equilibrium position — equilibrium position, le chatelier
- suggest conditions to produce a particular product from an equilibrium reaction — equilibrium, industrial condition
- use arithmetic computation and ratio to measure rates of reaction — reaction rate calculation
- draw and interpret graphs to determine rate of reaction — gradient, rate graph
- determine gradients of graphs as a measure of rate of change — gradient, rate of change
- use proportionality when comparing factors affecting rate of reaction — proportionality, reaction rate
Chemical analysis35
- explain the purity of a substance, distinguishing scientific and everyday use of the term — pure substance, purity
- explain that many useful materials are formulations of mixtures — formulation, mixture
- describe the process of filtration — filtration
- describe the process of crystallisation — crystallisation
- describe the process of simple distillation — simple distillation
- describe the process of fractional distillation — fractional distillation
- recall that chromatography separates substances between a stationary and mobile phase — chromatography, stationary phase
- interpret chromatograms, including measuring Rf values — chromatogram, rf value
- suggest purification techniques given information about substances — purification technique
- use melting point data to distinguish pure from impure substances — melting point, purity
- suggest chromatographic methods for distinguishing pure from impure substances — chromatography, purity
- use the law of conservation of mass — conservation of mass
- explain observed changes in mass in non-enclosed systems using the particle model — mass change, particle model
- calculate relative formula masses in a balanced chemical equation — relative formula mass
- use the definitions of the Avogadro constant and the mole — avogadro constant, mole
- explain how the mass of a substance relates to the amount in moles — molar mass, mole
- deduce the stoichiometry of an equation from masses of reactants and products — stoichiometry
- explain the effect of a limiting quantity of reactant — limiting reactant
- use a balanced equation to calculate masses of reactants or products — balanced equation, mass calculation
- explain how the mass of solute and volume of solution relate to concentration — concentration, solute mass
- describe the relationship between molar amounts of gases and their volumes — molar gas volume
- calculate the volumes of gases involved in reactions using the molar gas volume — gas volume calculation, molar gas volume
- explain how the concentration of a solution relates to mass of solute and volume — concentration, mol/dm3
- explain the relationship between volumes and concentrations of reacting solutions — concentration, titration
- describe tests to identify aqueous cations and anions — anion, cation, ion test
- identify chemical species from test results — chemical test, species identification
- interpret flame tests to identify metal ions — flame test, metal ion
- describe advantages of instrumental methods of chemical analysis — instrumental analysis, sensitivity
- interpret an instrumental result using a reference data set — instrumental data, reference data
- use arithmetic, ratio and percentage in multistep quantitative chemistry calculations — multistep calculation, percentage
- calculate with numbers in standard form using the Avogadro constant — avogadro constant, standard form
- change the subject of a mathematical equation — equation rearrangement
- provide answers to an appropriate number of significant figures — significant figures
- convert units from mass to moles — mole, unit conversion
- interpret charts in spectroscopy — chart interpretation, spectroscopy
Chemical and allied industries29
- describe the principles of carrying out a life-cycle assessment of a material — life-cycle assessment
- interpret data from a life-cycle assessment of a material or product — data interpretation, life-cycle assessment
- describe a process where a material is recycled for a different use — recycling
- evaluate factors that affect decisions on recycling — decision factor, recycling
- describe the separation of crude oil by fractional distillation — crude oil, fractional distillation
- describe crude oil fractions as mixtures of alkanes — alkane, hydrocarbon fraction
- describe the production of more useful materials by cracking — cracking, hydrocarbon
- explain the principles of industrial processes used to extract metals using carbon — metal extraction, reactivity series
- explain why electrolysis is used to extract some metals from their ores — electrolysis, metal ore
- evaluate alternative biological methods of metal extraction — bioleaching, phytoextraction
- describe the conditions that cause corrosion — corrosion
- explain how corrosion is mitigated by barriers and sacrificial protection — corrosion prevention, sacrificial protection
- describe the composition of alloys in relation to their properties and uses — alloy, material property
- compare the physical properties of ceramics, polymers, composites and metals — material property comparison
- explain how the properties of materials relate to their uses — material property, material use
- select appropriate materials given details of the required usage — material selection
- interpret graphs of reaction conditions versus rate in industrial processes — industrial process, rate graph
- explain the trade-off between rate of production and equilibrium position in industry — equilibrium, industrial rate trade-off
- explain how commercial process conditions relate to cost, equilibrium and rate — cost-benefit, industrial condition
- explain the importance of the Haber process in agricultural production — fertiliser, haber process
- recall the importance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds in agriculture — npk fertiliser
- describe the industrial production of fertilisers as integrated processes — fertiliser production
- compare industrial fertiliser production with laboratory synthesis — industrial synthesis, laboratory synthesis
- calculate the percentage yield of a reaction product — percentage yield
- calculate the theoretical amount of product from a given amount of reactant — theoretical yield
- define the atom economy of a reaction — atom economy
- calculate the atom economy of a reaction from a balanced equation — atom economy calculation
- explain why a reaction pathway is chosen using data on yield, rate and atom economy — atom economy, reaction pathway selection
- use arithmetic computation to calculate yields and atom economy — atom economy, yield calculation
Earth and atmospheric science11
- interpret evidence for how the Earth's atmosphere was originally formed — early atmosphere, evidence
- describe how an oxygen-rich atmosphere developed over time — atmospheric evolution, oxygen
- describe the greenhouse effect in terms of radiation interacting with matter — greenhouse effect, radiation
- evaluate evidence for anthropogenic causes of climate change — anthropogenic cause, climate change
- describe uncertainties in the evidence base for climate change — climate change, scientific uncertainty
- describe the potential effects of increased carbon dioxide and methane on climate — carbon dioxide, climate effect, methane
- describe how the effects of climate change may be mitigated — climate change mitigation
- describe the major sources of common atmospheric pollutants — carbon monoxide, particulate, sulfur dioxide
- explain problems caused by increased atmospheric pollutants — air pollution, health effect
- describe methods for increasing the availability of potable water — potable water, water treatment
- use orders of magnitude to evaluate the significance of environmental data — data significance, order of magnitude
Organic chemistry14
- recognise functional groups in organic compounds — functional group
- identify members of the same homologous series — homologous series
- name the first four members of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids — alcohol, alkane, alkene, carboxylic acid
- draw structural formulae of the first four members of these homologous series — homologous series, structural formula
- predict products of combustion reactions of alkanes, alkenes and alcohols — combustion, hydrocarbon
- predict products of addition reactions across a double bond in alkenes — addition reaction, double bond
- predict products of oxidation of alcohols to carboxylic acids — alcohol, carboxylic acid, oxidation
- recall that functional groups determine the general reactions of organic compounds — functional group, organic reaction
- recall the basic principles of addition polymerisation — addition polymerisation, monomer, repeating unit
- deduce the structure of an addition polymer from its alkene monomer — addition polymer, alkene monomer
- deduce the alkene monomer from the structure of an addition polymer — addition polymer, alkene monomer
- explain the basic principles of condensation polymerisation — condensation polymerisation, monomer, small molecule by-product
- recall that DNA is a polymer made from four nucleotide monomers — dna, nucleotide
- recall that other natural polymers are based on sugars and amino acids — carbohydrate, natural polymer, protein
Source: DfE GCSE single science subject content (2015, Open Government Licence v3.0. Outcomes are split into single actions and rewritten only where the original bundled several; wording otherwise follows the DfE text. Methodology.
What A level Chemistry teaches · Years 12–13
67 learning outcomes from the Department for Education’s statutory subject content, grouped by topic. Each outcome belongs to one of twelve fields of knowledge used across startfrom.today: Natural Sciences (53), Mathematics & Statistics (14). Exam boards add detail on top of these; the outcomes themselves are the same whichever board a school uses.
Formulae, equations and amounts of substance8
- interpret empirical and molecular formulaeYear 12 · AS — empirical formula, molecular formula
- write balanced chemical equations, including full and ionic equationsYear 12 · AS — balanced equation, ionic equation
- explain the Avogadro constant and the mole as the amount of substanceYear 12 · AS — avogadro constant, mole
- calculate relative atomic mass and relative isotopic massYear 12 · AS — relative atomic mass, relative isotopic mass
- calculate reacting masses and mole concentrations from balanced equationsYear 12 · AS — mole concentration, reacting masses
- calculate volumes of gases, percentage yields and atom economies of reactionsYear 12 · AS — atom economy, gas volume, percentage yield
- carry out simple acid-base titration calculationsYear 12 · AS — acid-base titration
- carry out non-structured titration calculations based on experimental resultsYear 12 · AS — experimental results, titration calculation
Atomic structure3
- describe electronic configuration of atoms in terms of energy levels and orbitalsYear 12 · AS — atomic orbitals, electronic configuration
- distinguish between ions and isotopesYear 12 · AS — ions, isotope
- explain how mass spectrometry determines atomic mass and isotopic abundanceYear 12 · AS — isotopic abundance, mass spectrometry
Bonding and structure7
- interpret ionic and covalent bonding in terms of electron arrangementYear 12 · AS — covalent bonding, ionic bonding
- compare simple covalent, giant covalent, ionic and metallic structuresYear 12 · AS — covalent structure, giant covalent structure, ionic structure, metallic structure
- explain permanent and induced dipole-dipole interactions, including hydrogen bondingYear 12 · AS — dipole-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding
- relate electronegativity to bond typeYear 12 · AS — bond type, electronegativity
- interpret the physical properties of materials in terms of structure and bondingYear 12 · AS — structure-property relationship
- predict the shapes of simple molecules and ions with up to six outer electron pairsYear 12 · AS — bonding pairs, lone pairs, molecular shape
- interpret molecular shapes using electron pair repulsion theoryYear 12 · AS — electron pair repulsion theory
Energetics4
- calculate standard enthalpy changes of reaction, formation and combustionYear 12 · AS — enthalpy change, standard enthalpy
- calculate average bond enthalpiesYear 12 · AS — bond enthalpy
- use Hess's law to calculate enthalpy changesYear 12 · AS — hess's law
- use energetics, including entropy, to predict the feasibility of reactionsYear 13 — entropy, feasibility of reaction
Kinetics5
- explain collision theory qualitativelyYear 12 · AS — collision theory
- explain how activation energy and temperature affect rate via the Boltzmann distributionYear 12 · AS — activation energy, boltzmann distribution, rate of reaction
- explain the role of catalysts in providing an alternative route of lower activation energyYear 12 · AS — activation energy, catalysis
- determine rate equations of the form Rate = k[A]^m[B]^nYear 13 — rate constant, rate equation
- use orders of reaction to identify a rate-determining stepYear 13 — order of reaction, rate-determining step
Equilibria10
- explain the dynamic nature of chemical equilibriaYear 12 · AS — dynamic equilibrium
- explain effects of temperature, pressure and concentration on homogeneous equilibriumYear 12 · AS — homogeneous equilibrium, le chatelier's principle
- explain the equilibrium constant Kc for homogeneous reactionsYear 12 · AS — equilibrium constant kc
- calculate Kc and reacting quantities at equilibriumYear 12 · AS — equilibrium constant kc, reacting quantities
- explain the effect of temperature changes on KcYear 12 · AS — kc, temperature dependence
- apply the Bronsted-Lowry theory to acid-base reactionsYear 13 — bronsted-lowry theory
- calculate pH for strong acids and strong bases using the ionic product of water, KwYear 13 — ionic product of water, ph calculation
- explain the dissociation constant Ka of weak acidsYear 13 — dissociation constant ka, weak acid
- calculate pH for weak acids using KaYear 13 — dissociation constant ka, weak acid ph
- explain how buffer solutions work and their applicationsYear 13 — buffer solution
Redox3
- calculate oxidation states of elements in compoundsYear 12 · AS — oxidation state
- explain oxidation and reduction as electron transfer in s, p and d block elementsYear 12 · AS — electron transfer, oxidation, reduction
- explain electrode potentials and their applicationsYear 13 — electrochemical cell, electrode potential
Inorganic chemistry and the periodic table11
- explain the organisation of elements by proton number and electronic structureYear 12 · AS — electronic structure, periodic table organisation
- classify elements into s, p and d blocksYear 12 · AS — d block, p block, s block
- compare characteristic reactions of a metallic and a non-metallic groupYear 12 · AS — group reactions, periodic trend
- explain trends in properties of elements and compounds within a periodic table groupYear 12 · AS — group trend, periodicity
- explain the trend in melting point across a periodYear 12 · AS — melting point, periodic trend
- explain the trend in ionisation energy across a periodYear 12 · AS — ionisation energy, periodic trend
- explain why transition metals form stable ions with incompletely filled d orbitalsYear 13 — d orbitals, transition metal
- explain why transition metals show more than one oxidation stateYear 13 — variable oxidation state
- explain the formation of coloured ions and precipitation reactions of transition metalsYear 13 — coloured ions, precipitation reaction
- explain reactions of transition metals with ligands, including ligand substitutionYear 13 — complex ion, ligand, ligand substitution
- explain the catalytic behaviour of transition metals and their compoundsYear 13 — transition metal catalysis
Organic chemistry12
- identify functional groups in organic moleculesYear 12 · AS — functional group
- distinguish structural isomers from stereoisomersYear 12 · AS — stereoisomerism, structural isomerism
- explain geometric E-Z isomerism resulting from restricted rotation about a double bondYear 13 — e-z isomerism, geometric isomerism
- explain optical isomerism resulting from chirality at a single chiral centreYear 13 — chirality, optical isomerism
- classify organic reactions by type: addition, elimination, substitution or hydrolysisYear 12 · AS — addition, elimination, oxidation-reduction, substitution
- classify polymerisation reactions as addition or condensation polymerisationYear 13 — addition polymerisation, condensation polymerisation
- classify organic reaction mechanisms, including radical and electrophilic substitutionYear 13 — electrophilic addition, nucleophilic substitution, radical substitution
- explain how bond polarity and bond enthalpy influence the reactivity of covalent bondsYear 12 · AS — bond enthalpy, bond polarity, reactivity
- explain the structure of and bonding in benzeneYear 13 — aromaticity, benzene
- plan synthesis routes using reactions of alkanes, alkenes and halogenoalkanesYear 12 · AS — alkane, alkene, halogenoalkanes, organic synthesis
- plan synthesis routes using reactions of alcohols, arenes, aldehydes and ketonesYear 13 — alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, organic synthesis
- plan synthesis routes using reactions of carboxylic acids, esters and aminesYear 13 — amines, carboxylic acid, esters, organic synthesis
Modern analytical techniques4
- interpret mass spectra to elucidate molecular structureYear 12 · AS — mass spectrometry, structure elucidation
- interpret infrared spectra to elucidate molecular structureYear 12 · AS — infrared spectroscopy, structure elucidation
- interpret nuclear magnetic resonance spectra to elucidate molecular structureYear 13 — nmr spectroscopy, structure elucidation
- use chromatography techniques in the analysis of chemical mixturesYear 13 — chemical analysis, chromatography
Source: DfE GCE AS and A level science subject content (2014), Open Government Licence v3.0. Outcomes are split into single actions and rewritten only where the original bundled several; wording otherwise follows the DfE text. Methodology.