Unit 1: The skills of chemistry

Students should:

• understand the need for a structured approach to the investigations conducted in chemistry as in all sciences)
• know that chemistry is the study of pure substances and how they interact.
• be able to differentiate between pure substances and mixtures.
• be familiar with the basic apparatus of the chemist and its safe use, including selection of size.
• understand that matter may be classified in a variety of ways, each with its own value.
• be familiar with the idea of different states of matter and the interchangeability of these.
• recognise the difference between a chemical and a physical reaction
• be able to represent chemical reactions as word and formula equations
• understand the law of conservation of matter
• be able to describe the reaction types synthesis and decomposition
• understand crystal structure and water of crystallisation