CIE A Level Chemistry Revision Notes 2022

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

1. Physical Chemistry

1.1.1 Particles in the Atom & Atomic Structure

1.1.2 Mass, Charge & Subatomic Particles

1.1.3 Determining Subatomic Structure

1.1.4 Atomic & Ionic Radius

1.1.5 Isotopes

1.1.6 Electronic Structure

1.1.7 Electron Subshells & Orbitals

1.1.8 Electron Configuration

1.1.9 Determining Electronic Configurations

1.1.10 Ionisation Energy

1.1.11 Ionisation Energy Trends

1.1.12 Ionisation Energies & Electronic Configurations

1.2.1 Relative Masses

1.2.2 The Mole & Avogadro Constant

1.2.3 Formulae

1.2.4 Balancing Equations

1.2.5 Empirical & Molecular Formulae

1.2.6 Water of Crystallisation

1.2.7 Reacting Masses & Volumes

1.3.1 Electronegativity

1.3.2 Electronegativity Trends

1.3.3 Electronegativity & Bonding

1.3.4 Ionic Bonding

1.3.5 Ionic Bonding Examples

1.3.6 Metallic Bonding

1.3.7 Covalent Bonding

1.3.8 Coordinate Bonding

1.3.9 Hybridisation

1.3.10 Bond Energy & Length

1.3.11 Shapes of Molecules

1.3.12 Hydrogen Bonding

1.3.13 Polarity & Dipole Moments

1.3.14 Van der Waals' Forces

1.3.15 Inter & Intramolecular Forces

1.3.16 Dot-&-Cross Diagrams

1.4.1 Gas Pressure

1.4.2 Ideal Gas Law & Equation

1.4.3 Lattice Structures

1.4.4 Bonding & Structure

1.5.1 Enthalpy Change, ΔH

1.5.2 Energy Level Diagrams

1.5.3 Standard Enthalpy Change

1.5.4 Enthalpy & Bond Energies

1.5.5 Hess’s Law

1.6.1 Oxidation Number Rules

1.6.2 Redox Reactions

1.6.3 Oxidising & Reducing Agents

1.7.1 Chemical Equilibria

1.7.2 Le Chaterlier's Principle

1.7.3 Equilibrium Constant

1.7.4 Equilibrium Constant Calculations

1.7.5 Changes Affecting the Equilibrium Constant

1.7.6 Industrial Processes

1.7.7 Acids & Bases

1.7.8 Brønsted–Lowry Theory

1.7.9 Acid & Base Dissociation

1.7.10 pH Scale

1.7.11 Strength of Acids & Bases

1.7.12 pH Titration Curves

1.7.13 Indicators used in Titration

1.8.1 Collision Theory

1.8.2 Rate of Reaction

1.8.3 Activation Energy & Boltzmann Distribution Curves

1.8.4 Homogeneous & Heterogeneous Catalysts

2. Inorganic Chemistry

2.1.1 Period 3 Elements: Physical Properties

2.1.2 Period 3 Elements: Structure & Bonding

2.1.3 Period 3 Oxides

2.1.4 Period 3 Oxides & Hydroxides: Acid/Base Behaviour

2.1.5 Period 3 Chlorides

2.1.6 Period 3 Elements: Electronegativity & Bonding

2.1.7 Period 3 Chlorides & Oxides

2.1.8 Chemical Periodicity of Other Elements

2.2.1 Reactions of Group 2 Elements

2.2.2 Reactions of Group 2 Oxides, Hydroxides & Carbonates

2.2.3 Thermal Decomposition of Nitrates & Carbonates

2.2.4 Group 2: Physical & Chemical Trends

2.2.5 Group 2: Trends in Solubility of Hydroxides & Sulfates

2.3.1 Physical Properties of the Group 17 Elements

2.3.2 Chemical Properties: Halogens & Hydrogen Halides

2.3.3 Reactions of the Halide Ions

2.3.4 The Reactions of Chlorine

2.4.1 Nitrogen and its Compounds

2.4.2 Nitrogen Oxides

3. Organic Chemistry

3.1.1 Hydrocarbons & Alkanes

3.1.2 Functional Groups and their Formulae

3.1.3 Naming of Organic Compounds

3.1.4 Molecular & Empirical Formulae

3.1.5 Characteristic Organic Reactions

3.1.6 Terminology Used in Reaction Mechanisms

3.1.7 Shapes of Organic Molecules; Sigma & Pi Bonds

3.1.8 Hybridisation in Organic Molecules

3.1.9 Planarity of Organic Molecules

3.1.10 Structural Isomerism

3.1.11 Stereoisomerism

3.1.12 Chirality

3.1.13 Isomers of Organic Compounds

3.2.1 Alkanes

3.2.2 Combustion & Free Radical Substitution of Alkanes

3.2.3 Free Radical Substitution

3.2.4 Cracking of Alkanes

3.2.5 Chemical Reactivity of Alkanes

3.2.6 Combustion of Alkanes

3.2.7 Production of Alkenes

3.2.8 Reactions of Alkenes

3.2.9 Test for Unsaturation

3.2.10 Electrophilic Addition of Alkenes

3.2.11 Markovnikov's Rule

3.3.1 Production of Halogenoalkanes

3.3.2 Substitution Reactions of Halogenoalkanes

3.3.3 Elimination Reactions of Halogenoalkanes

3.3.4 SN1 & SN2

3.3.5 Reactivity of Halogenoalkanes

3.4.1 Production of Alcohols

3.4.2 Reactions of Alcohols

3.4.3 Classifying and Testing for Alcohols

3.4.4 Alcohol Dissociation

3.5.1 Production of Aldehydes & Ketones

3.5.2 Reactions of Aldehydes & Ketones

3.5.3 Reaction with HCN

3.5.4 Carbonyl Compound Tests

3.5.5 Iodoform Reaction

3.6.1 Carboxylic Acids

3.6.2 Esters

3.7.1 Primary Amines

3.7.2 Nitriles & Hydroxynitriles

3.8.1 Addition Polymerisation

3.8.2 Disposal of Polymers

3.9.1 Organic Synthesis

3.9.2 Multi-Step Synthesis

3.9.3 Synthetic Routes

4. Analysis

4.1.1 Infra-Red Spectroscopy

4.1.2 Mass Spectrometry

4.1.3 Isotopic Abundance & Relative Atomic Mass

4.1.4 Molecular Ion Peak & Fragmentation

4.1.5 M + 1 Peak

4.1.6 M + 2 Peak

5. Physical Chemistry (A Level Only)

5.1.1 Lattice Energy & Enthalpy Change of Atomisation

5.1.2 Electron Affinity & Trends of Group 16 & 17 Elements

5.1.3 Constructing Born-Haber Cycles

5.1.4 Calculations using Born-Haber Cycles

5.1.5 Factors Affecting Lattice Energy

5.1.6 Enthalpies of Solution & Hydration

5.1.7 Constructing Energy Cycles using Enthalpy Changes & Lattice Energy

5.1.8 Energy Cycle Calculations

5.1.9 Factors Affecting Enthalpy of Hydration

5.2.1 Entropy & Entropy Change

5.2.2 Calculating Entropy Changes

5.2.3 Gibbs Free Energy Change & Gibbs Equation

5.2.4 Reaction Feasibility

5.2.5 Reaction Feasibility: Temperature Changes

5.3.1 Electrolysis

5.3.2 Faraday's Law & Avogadro

5.3.3 Standard Electrode & Cell Potentials

5.3.4 Measuring the Standard Electrode Potential

5.4.1 Electrolysis: Calculations

5.4.2 Standard Cell Potential: Calculations, Electron Flow & Feasibility

5.4.3 Electrochemical Series & Redox Equations

5.4.4 Non-Standard Conditions

5.4.5 Nernst Equation

5.4.6 Standard Electrode Potentials: Free Energy Change

5.5.1 Acids & Bases

5.5.2 pH, Ka, pKa & Kw Calculations

5.5.3 pH & [H+] Calculations

5.5.4 Buffers

5.5.5 Buffer Calculations

5.5.6 Solubility Product

5.5.7 Solubility Product Calculations

5.5.8 The Common Ion Effect

5.5.9 Partition Coefficients

5.6.1 Basics of Kinetics

5.6.2 Kinetics Calculations

5.6.3 Half-Life

5.6.4 Rate Constant Calculations

5.6.5 Multi-Step Reactions

5.6.6 Factors affecting Rate Constant

5.6.7 Homogeneous & Heterogeneous Catalysts

6. Inorganic Chemistry (A Level Only)

6.1.1 Similarities, Trends & Compounds of Magnesium to Barium

6.2.1 General Properties of the Transition Elements: Titanium to Copper

6.2.2 Oxidation States of Transition Metals

6.2.3 Transition Metal Complexes

6.2.4 Ligands

6.2.5 Defining Complexes

6.2.6 Geometry of Complexes

6.2.7 Degenerate & non-Degenerate d Orbitals

6.2.8 Coloured Complexes

6.3.1 Ligand Exchange

6.3.2 Predicting Feasibility of Redox Reactions

6.3.3 Redox Systems

6.3.4 Calculations of Other Redox Systems

6.3.5 Stereoisomerism in Transition Element Complexes

6.3.6 Stability Constants, Kstab

6.3.7 Effect of Ligand Exchange on Stability Constant

7. Organic Chemistry (A Level Only)

7.1.1 Functional Groups

7.1.2 Formulae of Functional Groups

7.1.3 Nomenclature of Compounds

7.1.4 Organic Chemistry Terminology

7.1.5 Shape of Aromatic Molecules

7.1.6 Optical Isomers

7.1.7 Chirality & Drug Production

7.2.1 Reactions of Arenes

7.2.2 Electrophilic Substitution of Arenes

7.2.3 Location of Halogenation on Arenes

7.2.4 Directing Effects of Substituents on Arenes

7.3.1 Production of Halogenoarenes

7.3.2 Reactivity of Halogenoarenes

7.4.1 Alcohols

7.4.2 Production of Phenol

7.4.3 Reactions of Phenol

7.4.4 Acidity of Phenols

7.4.5 Nitration & Bromination of Phenol

7.4.6 Reactions of Other Phenolic Compounds

7.5.1 Production of Benzoic Acid

7.5.2 Reactions of Carboxylic Acids

7.5.3 Relative Acidities of Carboxylic Acids, Phenols & Alcohols

7.5.4 Relative Acidities of Chlorine-substituted Carboxylic Acids

7.5.5 Production of Esters

7.5.6 Production & Reactions of Acyl Chlorides

7.5.7 Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl Chlorides

7.5.8 Relative Ease of Hydrolysis

7.6.1 Production of Amines

7.6.2 Production of Amides

7.6.3 Basicity of Amines

7.6.4 Production & Reactions of Phenylamine

7.6.5 Relative Basicity of Ammonia, Ethylamine & Phenylamine

7.6.6 Azo Compounds

7.6.7 Reactions of Amides

7.6.8 Relative Basicity of Amides & Amines

7.6.9 Amino Acids

7.6.10 Peptide Bonds

7.6.11 Electrophoresis

7.7.1 Formation of Polyesters

7.7.2 Formation of Polyamides

7.7.3 Repeat Units & Monomers

7.7.4 Polymerisation Types

7.7.5 Degradabiity of Polymers

7.8.1 Elucidating Organic Molecules

7.8.2 Multi-step Synthetic Routes

8. Analysis (A Level Only)

8.1.1 Thin-Layer Chromatography

8.1.2 Gas/Liquid Chromatography: Basics

8.1.3 Interpreting Rf Values in GL Chromatography

8.1.4 Interpreting & Explaining Carbon-13 NMR Spectroscopy

8.1.5 Proton (1H) NMR Spectroscopy

8.1.6 Use of Tetramethylsilane (TMS)

8.1.7 Deuterated Solvents in Proton NMR