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The Gryphon SchoolSixth Form
Chemistry AS Handbook
ContentsCourse outline with key assessment dates............................................................................................2
How the course is assessed...................................................................................................................3
Copy of the syllabus or a link to it..........................................................................................................3
Access details to VLE, blogs, resources areas etc..................................................................................3
How the course is delivered..................................................................................................................3
Departmental expectations...................................................................................................................4
Area for recording target grades & modules etc...................................................................................4
A summer holiday key skills task...........................................................................................................5
Course outline with key assessment datesAS Chemistry consists of three Units.
Unit 1 F321 Atoms, Bonds and Groups (30% of AS) : Divided into 3 units
ALL examined in January
Module 1.1 covers the development of the modern theory of Atomic Structure and how that knowledge can help explain behaviour of substances. It also includes work on the Mole theory. This is a fundamental method by which chemists can count atoms and accurately assess amount of substance.
Module 1.2 covers Structure and Bonding, first met at GCSE in greater depth and a better model of bonding is developed, to include explanation of molecular shape and behaviour.
Module 1.3 Covers the chemistry of Groups 2 and 7 and the ideas of ionisation energy and Redox reactions are introduced.
Unit 2 F322 Chains Energy and Resources (50% of AS) : Divided into 4 units
All examined in June
Module 2.1 : Covers an introduction to Organic Chemistry using the Hydrocarbons, Alkenes and Polymers as examples of carbon compounds. The skills of naming and drawing Organic molecules are met in preparation for future development.
Module 2.2 : Covers more classes of Organic chemicals including the Alcohols, Halogenoalkanes as well as instrumental techniques such as Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry.
Module 2.3 : Covers aspects of Energy within chemistry. We meet for the first time the concepts of Enthalpy and Hess’s law along with a more detailed look at the energetics of reaction rate.
Module 2.4 : Covers a variety of environmental and green chemistry topics ranging from ozone depletion and global warming to the ways in which chemists are helping create solutions to environmental problems.
Unit 3 F323 Practical assessment (20% of AS) Completed by May 15th
Practical work is completed as a learning experience throughout the course where appropriate but some are specifically design to test skills. The areas for practical skills are :
o Qualitative : Observing reactions and making deductionso Quantitative : Performing practicals and analysing the results often via a calculationo Evaluative : Assessing a practical procedure for validity and considering the numeric
value and impact of errors
Each skill is assessed up to 3 times over the year with the best score counting.
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How the course is assessed
Copy of the syllabus or a link to it
The full AS and A2 specification can be found the Chemistry Section of student resources or at
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gce/science/chemistry_a/documents/index.html
Access details to VLE, blogs, resources areas etcThe Student resources area on the school network contains a lot of the resources for the course, as does the CD contained within the course textbook purchased by the student.
Other sources of information include:
Student Resources : Chemistry
There are numerous exemplar exams, powerpoints and extra notes for AS on student resources. This is on the Gryphon network which can be accessed from home once you have a valid login.
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/ : A comprehensive online textbook
http://www.docbrown.info/index.htm : Questions and revision notes
http://www.webelements.com/ : A highly detailed periodic table
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm : Molecule of the month,
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/chemistry : General on-line revision or help
Each of these websites has links to countless other areas on the net
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How the course is delivered You will have two teachers (5 periods per fortnight with one and 4 with the other).
In the first term they will deliver Unit F321. o Teacher A will cover Module 1.1 o Teacher B will cover Module 1.2 o Module 1.3 is split between the two.
Unit F322 is split between the two teachers o Teacher A covers the Organic Chemistry (Modules 2.1 and 2.2)o Teacher B covers the Physical and Environmental Chemistry (Modules 2.3 and 2.4).
The practical work is covered by both as the relevant section of the course is met.
This splitting of the specification is flexible to allow for unexpected loss of lessons due to weather, staff illness etc
Departmental expectations We expect full attendance at all lessons and where appropriate all work to be completed by deadlines. If you are finding some work difficult, we would expect you to seek assistance at the first opportunity not wait until a lesson, or deadline, has passed. We expect that after each lesson, which is usually related to a double page spread in the text book, you would read fully and check you can do the exemplar questions (answers supplied in the back of the book). You should consolidate your notes using an appropriate method to suit your learning style ( A6 consolidation cards, flow diagrams , bullet pointed sequence lists, mind/concept maps) using the text book and additional resources identified by your teacher.
The course charge of £20 covers the supply of a text book which we feel is best for the course and additional ICT resources. Chemistry by its nature involves potentially hazardous practical work and whilst we provide appropriate safety equipment (glasses, gloves, fume cupboards etc) , you may wish to purchase a lab coat to protect your clothing during practical sessions.
Area for recording target grades & modules etcYou will be assessed at intervals over the course in both theory and practical work. This will be recorded on a departmental spreadsheet and comparisons to your target grade highlighted. The spreadsheet will be available on student resources.
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A summer holiday key skills taskChemistry Induction task
Chemistry is all around us, yet it is only sometimes that we see it displayed. What we would like you to do is to ‘deconstruct’ TWO everyday materials and compare and contrast their chemical contents.
We suggest you choose two materials that are linked to each other in some way
An example of one ‘deconstruction’ is shown below.
In this example they have used the ingredients list and identified the uses of each. This could easily be extended to show greater chemical structure of the molecules and perhaps a more detailed explanation of either the purpose or effect of some of the chemicals involved.
By choosing a pair of similar materials you can concentrate on what chemicals appear in both and why and how the pair might differ. Feel free to select your own pair, but some ideas are
Two different Shampoos (e.g. Greasy and Dry hair types / different price range /Synthetic vs Organic)
A shampoo and a conditioner
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Two different toothpastes
Painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol)
Detergents
You may be able to come up with others use your imagination
The task
The task is to produce a presentation in the form of either an A3 (2 *A4 or larger)poster or multislide powerpoint (which could be displayed on a large screen TV) aimed at year 11 students to show just how much Chemistry there is in our everyday life.
You are expected to bring your completed task to your first Chemistry lesson.
What we are looking for
Research skills : Can you read, select and research information about a chemical and gain some understanding of its chemistry. If you don’t have internet access then your local Library will!
Chemical names and Structures : We want you to become familiar with the ways chemicals can be named and drawn. You do not need to understand the complex naming system, but like a language, at least become familiar with the styles.
A comparison between a related pair of substances. If they use different chemicals can you discover why? How do they work?
A degree of thought about the sources of the information (which should be quoted). Remember a company is unlikely to list potential or unproven side effects, whereas those affected may.
A bit of imagination and interest.
What we don’t want
We do not want a huge cut and paste Wikipedia entry, where there is little evidence of any real understanding of what you have researched.
A highly detailed post degree explanation that neither you nor any other year 11/12 will understand.
A list of ingredients with little development of what they are, or do. You choice of material is critical here is making this bit more or less difficult.
Unsubstantiated claims or information that has no source referenced.
What to avoid
Clearly some ingredients will be protected by companies to avoid their product being copied (Perfumes, Pepsi /Coca Cola). Choose item where sufficient detail is available to allow further research.
Products with limited ingredients or the contents are vague because it is not a material that comes into contact with humans or animals. These will give you insufficient scope for comparison and research.
By all means do pharmaceuticals, but we don’t need kitchen chemistry crack cocaine recipes or any other illegal home products. Remember we hope to display your task in a school!
Marmite! (come up with your own idea)
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Where to find information
Ingredient labels. The statutory labelling of ingredients is a great place to start. Many companies have a help line / web site with a lot of detail on usually on the label. Good old Google and Wikipedia ,but try more Chemical places as well like www.ukfoodguide.net www.chemspider.com www.howstuffworks.com
You might find some of your substances mentioned in
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm Bristol University’s Molecule of the month page
Don’t feel you have to explain everything. Choose those aspects you feel you understand and that might be of interest to a year 11 who is considering Chemistry at A level.
Chemistry is an enormous subject and you have done very little at GCSE. You may find that quickly the language and complexity of material on the internet can be overwhelming. Try to pick out bits that you do understand, or stick to web sites that are aimed at the general public.
Should you require help on any aspects of this task then please email the Head of Chemistry at the Gryphon using the email address below before the 15th July.
We hope you will enjoy doing both AS Chemistry and this induction task and look forward to seeing you in September.
The Gryphon Chemistry Team
Mr James Biddiscombe (Sc 6) Mrs Cath Freeborn (Sc 7) Miss Fiona Guest (Sc 11) Mr Martin Gunn (Head of Dept, Sc 8) Mr Jon Stuart ( Sc 10)
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