Beaconhurst School

Senior School - Chemistry

Staff

Miss Sam Kidd, BSc, PGCE

Transition-S2 Courses:

Transition Science
In transition we have a topic-based approach with as much practical work included as possible.

Rocks and Crystals
Types of rocks and their formation. Tests for identifying rocks e.g. hardness, `fizz test`. Growing crystals and crystal structure

Life Cycles
Asexual sexual reproduction compared. Asexual reproduction in both plants and animals. Sexual reproduction in plants and animals, with emphasis on humans.

The Solar System and Stars
Stars and planets. Positions, relative size, distance etc. of planets. Star life cycle. Astronomers - observing the night sky. Exploring our solar system.

Metals and Plastics
Names, alloys and pure metals. Corrosion. Extraction of metals from ores. Properties of metals. Advantages and disadvantages of plastics. Contrast properties with traditional materials; metal, wood, glass, etc. Names of some plastics. Testing their strength.

Water
Pressure and its consequences. Surface tension. Capillary action, meniscus. Siphon. Syringes. Water wheel, water power, paddle boat. Useful and destructive power

Tools
Idea of tools to make work easier. Simple tools e.g. levers, pulleys, and gears
Construction of useful objects using simple tools. Making a useful object from wood using a variety of hand tools.

Investigations:
These are used as a means of delivering certain aspects of the course at the discretion of the teacher.

S1-S2

Textbook used - Longman Chemistry 11-14

Approximately three Chapters are likely to be covered during S1 (Introduction to Chemistry, Elements, Compounds and Mixtures and Water and Solutions). The rest will mainly be covered in the first two terms of S2 (Planet Earth, Metals and Types of Chemical Reactions), leaving time in the third term to begin some Standard Grade work. This may involve carrying out some practical abilities or investigations or projects if the size and composition of the group allows, or else making a start on one of the theoretical topics, normally Topic 1 Chemical Reactions. This should allow some time to establish good practice before the start of SG.

TOPIC 1 : Introduction to Chemistry

  • What is Chemistry?
  • Experiments in Chemistry - Safety Rules and Apparatus
  • Chemical and Physical Change
  • Particles and the States of Matter
  • Explaining Physical Changes
  • More about Properties of Matter

TOPIC 2 : Elements,Compounds and Mixtures

  • Properties of Substances
  • Elements and the Periodic Table
  • Compounds
  • Solutions and Non-Aqueous Solvents
  • Seperating Mixtures by Filtration
  • Distillation including Fractional Distillation
  • Chromatography

TOPIC 3 : Water and Solutions

  • Heating and Cooling water, Revision of the Water Cycle
  • Testing for Water
  • Our Water Supply and Pollution
  • Acids, Alkalis and Neutralisation
  • Naturally Occurring and Household Acids and Bases
  • Vegetable Indicators (red cabbage normally) leading to Commercial and Universal Indicator
  • Neutralisation and its Applications
  • Reactions of Acids and Metal Carbonates
  • Bases
  • Acid Rain

TOPIC 4 : Planet Earth

  • Brief revision of Transition Work on the Structure of the Earth
  • Types of Rock
  • Erosion
  • The Rock Cycle
  • Soil
  • The Air and Combustion
  • Properties and Uses of gases in the Air
  • The Fire Triangle
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Air Pollution
  • Chemicals from Oil

TOPIC 5 : Metals

  • Physical Properties of Metals
  • Alloys
  • Chemical Propeties - Metals and Oxygen
  • Metals and Water
  • metals and Acids
  • Reactivity Series
  • Displacement
  • Finding and Extracting Metals
  • Corrosion and Rusting - Conditions needed and Rust prevention by various Methods

TOPIC 6 : Types of Reactions

  • Oxidation, Combustion, Reduction, Decomposition, Neutralisation, Precipitation, Displacement.
  • Conservation of Mass and Energy Changes during Reactions
  • Rate of Chemical reactions and how to speed them up
  • Structure of of Atoms
  • Periodic Table
  • Group 1,7, and Transition Metals
  • Formulas and Equations

S3-S4 – Intermediate 1


Intermediate 1 Chemistry consists of three Units:

  • Chemistry in Action
  • Everyday Chemistry
  • Chemistry and Life

S3-S4 – Standard Grade


Textbook used - Standard Grade Chemistry (Conquest/Renfrew)

The following topics are covered over the two year period.

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Speed of Reactions
  • Atoms and the Periodic Table
  • How Atoms combine
  • Fuels
  • Structures and Reaction of hydrocarbons
  • Properties of Substances
  • Acids and Alkalis
  • Reactions of acids
  • Making Electricity
  • Metals
  • Corrosion
  • Plastics and Synthetic Fibres
  • Fertilisers
  • Carbohydrates and Related Substances

Practical activities and Investigations are also carried out during the two year course and contribute 20% to the overall award.

S5/S6 – Intermediate 2 Chemistry

Intermediate 2 Chemistry consists of three 40 hour Units:

  • Building Blocks
  • Carbon Compounds
  • Acids, Bases and Metals.

S5/S6 – Higher Chemistry

Higher Chemistry is designed in three Units, subdivided as follows:

1. Energy Matters

  • Reaction Rates
  • Enthalpy
  • Periodic Table
  • Bonding
  • The Mole

2. The World of Carbon

  • Fuels
  • Nomenclature
  • Reactions
  • Uses
  • Polymers
  • NaturalProducts

3. Chemical Reactions

  • Industry
  • Hess’s Law
  • Equilibrium
  • Acids and Bases
  • Redox Reactions
  • Nuclear

S6 – Advanced Higher

This consists of three theory units, namely:

  • Electronic Structure and the Periodic Table (20hr)
  • Principles of Chemical Reactions (40hr)
  • Organic Chemistry (40hr)

And a 20 hour Chemical Investigation.