Chemistry - A Level

Are you curious about the world around you, from the tiniest atoms to the grandest reactions? This A Level Chemistry course is for you! It's all about the study of materials, their properties, reactions, and uses. At Coleg Cambria, we'll encourage you to develop your personal and organisational skills, helping you to achieve your academic potential.

What You'll Learn
This course has a significant practical element, with theory and hands-on work seamlessly integrated. You'll experience working both independently and as part of a group. Our Chemistry students love taking part in exciting related experiences such as the Royal Society of Chemistry Young Analyst heats, Chemnet quiz, spectroscopy workshops, university masterclasses, and the Pennant Science and Maths Society.
Upon completion of the course, you'll have gained confidence in interacting with others, developed logical reasoning skills, and had valuable practice of investigative methods and safety when working in a laboratory.

The A Level Chemistry course follows the WJEC specification, building upon the topics you covered at GCSE. The AS Level consists of two units, examined at the end of the first year. If you choose to pursue the full A Level qualification, you'll study an additional three units in the second year, one of which includes a practical examination.

Here's a brief overview of the course content:
* UNIT 1: The language of Chemistry, structure of matter and chemical reactivity. You'll explore formulae and equations, atomic structure, calculations, bonding, solid structures, the classification of elements in the Periodic Table, equilibria, and acid-base reactions.
* UNIT 2: Energy, rate of reaction and the chemistry of carbon compounds. This unit covers thermochemical and kinetic analysis, the wider impact of chemistry in society, organic compounds including hydrocarbons, halogenoalkanes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, and instrumental methods of analysis.
* UNIT 3: Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. You'll delve into redox and standard electrode potential, p-block and d-block chemistry, enthalpy changes, entropy and the feasibility of reactions, equilibrium constants, and acid-base equilibria.
* UNIT 4: Organic Chemistry and analysis. This unit includes stereoisomerism, aromaticity, alcohols and phenols, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, amines, amino acids, peptides and proteins, organic synthesis, and analysis.
* UNIT 5 – Practical Chemistry unit: In addition to specified practical exercises set by WJEC, you will undertake a wide range of practical work to support your theory units. You'll need to maintain an organised file of your laboratory work in preparation for assessment in this unit.