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 Head of Department - Mrs A J Burdett
The aim of the chemistry department at HCS is to foster and encourage
Chemistry as the study of change in the material world; it underpins every aspect of our lives, from the pharmaceuticals we use, to the synthetic materials that surround us.
Curriculum Overview of HCS Chemistry Department
Year 7 (Taught as part of Junior Science)
Safety and the Bunsen burner; Elements; Compounds and Mixtures; Solutions; Separation of Mixtures; Acids and Bases
From Year 8 onwards Chemistry is taught as a separate subject in the chemistry dept. by subject specialists.
Year 8
Separation of Mixtures; Acids, Alkalis and pH; Types of Reaction; Elements, Mixtures and compounds-introduce symbols, Oxidation and Combustion; Air; Limestone.
Year 9
Chemical Formulae; Balancing Equations; Metals and their Reactivity; Extraction of Metals; Solubility; Preparation of Salts. Limestone and concrete.
At GCSE pupils can study either Triple Award Science, Chemistry follows the AQA Chemistry B Specification, or Dual Award Science following the AQA Science and Additional Science specifications.
Year 10
Topics include Periodic Table; Chemical Bonding; Structure and Properties; Electrolysis; Extraction of Metals; Organic Chemistry; Energy Changes in Reactions.
Year 11
Topics include Quantitative Chemistry; Acidity, Alkalinity and Neutralisation; Chemical Analysis; Equilibria; Industrial Processes.
At Advanced Level we follow the OCR chemistry specification.
Year 12
Outline of topics studied at AS:
Unit 1
Atomic structure; Formulae, Equations and Moles; Structure and Bonding; The Periodic Table, in particular Groups 1, 2 and 7; Introduction to Reduction and Oxidation.
Unit 2
Energetics involving Hess’s Law; an Introduction to Organic Chemistry including Alkanes, Alkenes and Alcohols; Qualitative Kinetics and Chemical Equilibria; Chemistry of the Air; Green Chemistry.
Unit 3
Practical skills including titration, chemical analysis, planning experiments and an introduction to organic methods.
Year 13 Outline of topics studied at A2:
Unit 4
Organic Chemistry including Arenes, Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Carbonyls and Nitrogen compounds, Amino acids and Proteins; Polyesters and Polyamides, Synthesis; Chromatography and Spectroscopy.
Unit 5
Transition Metals; Acids, Bases and Buffers, Thermodynamics; Quantitative Kinetics; Rates and Equilibrium; Electrode potentials and Fuel Cells.
Unit 6
Developing practical skills gained in the AS course, with particular attention to organic practical methods such as recrystallisation and further organic and inorganic analysis
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