Unit 1: Metals and materials

Students should:

• have a clear idea of a reactivity series as applied to metals reacting with water, steam, air, dilute acids

• understand the competition for metals and appreciate the role of reduction in the manufacture of metals

• appreciate the problems associated with the manufacture of bulk metals

• appreciate the importance of metals as materials in the everyday world

• understand the methods of corrosion protection used in everyday life

• appreciate that different metals can be used to produce electrical energy and this serves as useful energy storage.

Unit 2: Classification of reactions (This is primarily an introduction to the idea of redox by revision of other reaction types)

Students should:

• recall and recognise the different types of reaction to include synthesis, decomposition, neutralisation, displacement, oxidation and reduction.

• understand the role of the electrons in oxidation and reduction
  

Unit 3: Energetics

Students should:

• recognise exothermic and endothermic reactions

• associate exo- with bond formation and endo- with bond cleavage

• understand the law of conservation of energy

• be able to use E=mcØ to calculate the energy absorbed by a body

• be aware that reaction cannot be predicted by reference to energy alone
  

Unit 4: Rates of reactions

Students should

• appreciate that not all reactions proceed at the same rate

• be able to suggest methods of following reactions by change in reactant or product

• be familiar with apparatus used to measure rates.

• be able to explain the effect of changing the concentration, temperature, particle size and catalyst on the rate of a chemical reaction.

• be able to explain the effect of the above in terms of collision theory

Unit 5: The oil industry and hydrocarbons

Students should:

• realise from where the worlds natural resources of hydrocarbons originate

• be aware of the finite nature of the above.

• understand the use of hydrocarbons as fuels and a source of valuable raw materials

• be familiar with fractional distillation and cracking as industrial processes

• understand the hazards created by the extraction of hydrocarbons and their use

• be able to classify hydrocarbons as saturated or unsaturated

• be able to name the alkanes and alkenes up to C5

• recognise and predict trends in homologous series

• be aware of the possible alternatives to the continued use of hydrocarbons

Unit 6: Equilibrium

Students should:

• understand the idea of a reversible reaction and appreciate that the reversibility depends on the conditions.

• understand the idea of dynamic equilibrium know Le Chatelier's principle for prediction of equilibria systems
  

Unit 7: Chemical industry

Students should:

• understand the role of chemistry in the production of raw and manufactured materials.

• appreciate the need for environmental awareness.