Chemistry

Courses: Chemistry National 4 and 5, Chemistry Higher, Chemistry Advanced Higher.

The purpose of the Courses is to develop learners’ curiosity, interest and enthusiasm for chemistry in a range of contexts. The key skills of scientific inquiry and investigation are integrated and developed throughout the Courses. The relevance of chemistry is highlighted by the study of the applications of chemistry in everyday contexts. This will enable learners to become scientifically literate citizens, able to review the science-based claims they will meet. 
The Courses give opportunities for learners to develop the ability to think analytically, creatively and independently, and to make reasoned evaluations. The Courses cover a variety of contexts relevant to chemistry’s impact on the environment and society through the chemistry of the Earth’s resources, the chemistry of everyday products and environmental analysis. The Courses allow flexibility and personalisation by offering choice in the contexts studied. It offers a broad, versatile and adaptable skills set which is valued in the workplace, and forms the basis for progress onto study of chemistry at a higher level, while also providing a knowledge base useful in the study of all of the sciences. 

To find revision materials for this subject go to the Family Learning zone

S3 Chemistry 

The S3 Chemistry course allows coverage of appropriate Level 4 chemistry to allow progression to National 5 chemistry outcomes. The outline of course coverage is as follows:

Dates

Outlines

Assessments

June

Introduction course  

 

 

 

August - October

Rates of reactions and Atoms

End of topic tests

 

November - December

Covalent bonding and Fuels

End of topic tests

 

January - April

Hydrocarbons and Ionic bonding

 

End of topic tests

 

April to May

Chemical formulae

End of topic test

 

S4 Chemistry

Under Qualifications Scotland (QS), the final grade is determined by a written exam paper worth 80% of your total mark, alongside an experimental research assignment worth the remaining 20%.

 

Dates

Outlines

Assessments

June

The Mole

End of topic test

 

 

 

August - October

Acids and Bases

End of topic test

 

October - December

Alcohols, Energy, Carboxylic acids and Plastics

End of topic test

 

 

Prelim exam for all topics covered in S3 and S4.

January - February

Metals followed by Assignment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignment practical and write-up under exam conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February - March

Fertilisers and Nuclear chemistry

 

April - May

Revision

Exam

Final exam

Higher Chemistry

Higher Chemistry deepens your understanding of Chemistry across three units. The qualification is assessed via a written exam paper accounting for 80% of the final mark, and a written research assignment making up the final 20%. The course is split between two teachers: Dr McIntyre (Unit 1 and 3) Mr Murray (Unit 2).

 

Dates

Outlines

Assessments

June

Unit 1 – Periodicity

 

Unit 2 – Systematic carbon chemistry

 

Homeworks

August - October

Unit 1 – Structure and Bonding & Oxidising/Reducing agents

 

Unit 2 – Alcohols, Carboxylic acids, Esters, Fats and Oils.

 

Homeworks

 

 

 

 

End of unit 1 Test

 

 

October - December

 

Unit 3 – Chemical analysis (volumetric analysis), Rates of reaction, Chemical energy.

 

Unit 2 – Soaps, Detergents and Emulsions, Proteins.

Homeworks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prelim covering Unit 1 and most of unit 2

January - April

Assignment

 

Unit 3: Getting the most from reactants, Equilibria, Chemical analysis (chromatography)

 

Unit 2: Oxidation of food, Fragrances, Skin care

 

 

 

Assignment practical and write up

 

 

End of Unit 2 Test

April to May

Revision

Exam

Final exam

Advanced Higher Chemistry

Advanced Higher Chemistry bridges the gap to university-level by covering three units: the assessment shifts to place a much larger emphasis on project work splitting the final grade between a written exam (75%) and an extensive, independently designed practical project report (25%).

 

Dates

Outlines

Assessments

May - June

Electromagnetic radiation and atomic spectra.

Atomic orbitals and electronic configuration

 

August - October

Transition metals

Equilibrium

Reaction feasibility

 

Unit 1 Assessment

October - December

Kinetics

Molecular orbitals

Synthesis

        Unit 2 Assessment

January - April

Stereochemistry

Structure determination

Pharmaceutical chemistry

Exam preparation

Project work

Prelim

Project deadline (March)

 

 

 

 

Unit 3 Assessment

Project draft submissions

Prelim

Final Project submission

 April - May

Targeted Revision

 

End exam

End QS exam