A LevelChemistryCambridge (CIE)Revision Notes

Cambridge (CIE) A Level Chemistry Revision Notes

Exam code: 9701

Maximise your marks with our Cambridge (CIE) A Level Chemistry revision notes. Expertly written and tailored to the CIE syllabus, these clear, exam-focused resources cover every topic you need—from bonding to energetics. With concise explanations, examiner tips, and downloadable PDFs, Save My Exams helps you revise smarter and more efficiently. Whether you're building confidence or pushing for top grades, our trusted study materials are here to guide you every step of the way towards exam success.

1. Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure & Subatomic Particles

Determining Subatomic Structure

Variations in Atomic & Ionic Radius

Electronic Structure

Sub-shells & Orbitals

Electronic Configuration

Determining Electronic Configuration

Defining Ionisation Energy

Ionisation Energy Trends

Ionisation Energy & Electronic Configuration

2. Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

Relative Masses

The Mole & the Avogadro Constant

Balancing Equations

Empirical & Molecular Formulae

Water of Crystallisation

Reacting Masses & Volumes

3. Chemical Bonding

Electronegativity

Trends in Electronegativity

Electronegativity & Bonding

Ionic Bonding Examples

Metallic Bonding

Covalent Bonding

Coordinate Bonding

Bond Energy & Length

Shapes of Molecules

Hydrogen Bonding

Bond Polarity & Dipole Moments

Van der Waals' Forces

Inter & Intramolecular Forces

Dot-&-Cross Diagrams

4. States of Matter

Lattice Structures

Bonding & Structure

5. Chemical Energetics

Enthalpy Change, ΔH

Reaction Pathway Diagrams

Standard Enthalpy Change

Enthalpy & Bond Energies

6. Electrochemistry

Oxidation Number Rules

Redox Reactions

Oxidising & Reducing Agents

7. Equilibria

Chemical Equilibria

Le Chatelier's Principle

Equilibrium Constants, Kc & Kp

Equilibrium Constant Calculations

Changes Affecting the Equilibrium Constant

Equilibria in Industrial Processes

Brønsted–Lowry Theory

Acid & Base Dissociation

Strength of Acids & Bases

pH Titration Curves

Indicators used in Titration

8. Reaction Kinetics

Rate of Reaction & Collision Theory

Rate of Reaction Calculations

Activation Energy & Boltzmann Distribution Curves

Types of Catalyst

9. The Periodic Table: Chemical Periodicity

Physical Properties of the Period 3 Elements

Structure & Bonding of the Period 3 Elements

Reactions of the Period 3 Elements

Acid/Base Behaviour of the Period 3 Oxides & Hydroxides

Period 3 Chlorides

Electronegativity & Bonding of the Period 3 Elements

Period 3 Chlorides & Oxides

Chemical Periodicity of Other Elements

10. Group 2

Reactions of Group 2 Elements

Reactions of Group 2 Oxides, Hydroxides & Carbonates

Thermal Decomposition of Group 2 Nitrates & Carbonates

Physical & Chemical Trends in Group 2

Trends in Solubility of Group 2 Hydroxides & Sulfates

11. Group 17

Physical Properties of the Group 17 Elements

Chemical Properties of the Halogens & Hydrogen Halides

Reactions of the Halide Ions

The Reactions of Chlorine

12. Nitrogen and Sulfur

Nitrogen & its Compounds

Nitrogen Oxides

13. An Introduction to AS Level Organic Chemistry

Hydrocarbons & Alkanes

Functional Groups & their Formulae

Naming of Organic Compounds

Molecular & Empirical Formulae

Characteristic Organic Reactions

Terminology Used in Reaction Mechanisms

Shapes of Organic Molecules; σ & π Bonds

Hybridisation in Organic Molecules

Planarity of Organic Molecules

Structural Isomerism

Stereoisomerism

Isomers of Organic Compounds

14. Hydrocarbons

Producing Alkanes

Combustion & Free Radical Substitution of Alkanes

Free Radical Substitution

Cracking of Alkanes

Chemical Reactivity of Alkanes

Combustion of Alkanes

Producing Alkenes

Reactions of Alkenes

Test for Unsaturation

Electrophilic Addition of Alkenes

Markovnikov's Rule

15. Halogen Compounds

Producing Halogenoalkanes

Substitution Reactions of Halogenoalkanes

Elimination Reactions of Halogenoalkanes

Reactivity of Halogenoalkanes

16. Hydroxy Compounds

Producing Alcohols

Reactions of Alcohols

Classifying & Testing for Alcohols

Acidity of Alcohols

17. Carbonyl Compounds

Producing Aldehydes & Ketones

Reactions of Aldehydes & Ketones

Reactions of Aldehydes & Ketones with HCN

Testing for Carbonyl Compounds

Iodoform Reaction

18. Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

Carboxylic Acids

19. Nitrogen Compounds

Nitriles & Hydroxynitriles

20. Polymerisation

Addition Polymerisation

Disposal of Polymers

21 .Organic Synthesis

Organic Synthesis

Multi-Step Synthesis

Synthetic Routes

22. Analytical Techniques

Infrared Spectroscopy

Mass Spectrometry

Isotopic Abundance & Relative Atomic Mass

Molecular Ion Peak & Fragmentation

The M+1 & M+2 Peaks

23. Chemical Energetics

Lattice Energy & Enthalpy Change of Atomisation

Electron Affinity & Trends of Group 16 & 17 Elements

Constructing Born-Haber Cycles

Calculations using Born-Haber Cycles

Factors Affecting Lattice Energy

Enthalpies of Solution & Hydration

Constructing Energy Cycles

Energy Cycle Calculations

Factors Affecting Enthalpy of Hydration

Entropy & Entropy Change

Calculating Entropy Changes

Gibbs Free Energy Change & Gibbs Equation

Reaction Feasibility

24. Electrochemistry

Faraday's Law & Avogadro

Electrolysis: Calculations

Standard Electrode & Cell Potentials

Measuring the Standard Electrode Potential

Standard Cell Potential: Calculations, Electron Flow & Feasibility

Non-Standard Conditions

Nernst Equation

Standard Electrode Potentials: Free Energy Change

25. Equilibria

Conjugate Acids & Bases

pH, Ka, pKa & Kw Calculations

pH & [H+] Calculations

Buffer Calculations

Solubility Product

Solubility Product Calculations

The Common Ion Effect

Partition Coefficients

26. Reaction Kinetics

Chemical Kinetics Terminology

Chemical Kinetics Calculations

Rate Constant Calculations

Multi-Step Reactions

Factors affecting Rate Constant

Homogeneous & Heterogeneous Catalysts

27. Group 2

Similarities, Trends & Compounds of Magnesium to Barium

28. Chemistry of Transition Elements

The Transition Elements: Titanium to Copper

Oxidation States of Transition Metals

Transition Metal Complexes

Geometry of Complexes

Ligand Exchange

Predicting Feasibility of Redox Reactions

Degenerate & non-Degenerate d Orbitals

Coloured Complexes

Stereoisomerism in Transition Element Complexes

Stability Constant, Kstab

Effect of Ligand Exchange on Stability Constant

29. An Introduction to A Level Organic Chemistry

Functional Groups

Formulae of Functional Groups

Nomenclature of Compounds

Organic Chemistry Terminology

The Shape of Aromatic Molecules

Optical Isomers

Chirality & Drug Production

30. Hydrocarbons

Reactions of Arenes

Electrophilic Substitution of Arenes

Location of Halogenation on Arenes

Directing Effects of Substituents on Arenes

31. Halogen Compounds

Producing Halogenoarenes

Reactivity of Halogenoarenes

32. Hydroxy Compounds

Alcohols & Acyl Chlorides

Producing Phenol

Reactions of Phenol

Acidity of Phenols

Nitration & Bromination of Phenol

Reactions of Other Phenolic Compounds

33. Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

Producing Benzoic Acid

Reactions of Carboxylic Acids

Relative Acidities of Carboxylic Acids, Phenols & Alcohols

Relative Acidities of Chlorine-substituted Carboxylic Acids

Producing Esters

Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl Chlorides

Relative Ease of Hydrolysis

34. Nitrogen Compounds

Producing Amines

Producing Amides

Basicity of Amines

Production & Reactions of Phenylamine

Relative Basicity of Ammonia, Ethylamine & Phenylamine

Reactions of Amides

Relative Basicity of Amides & Amines

Electrophoresis

35. Polymerisation

Formation of Polyesters

Formation of Polyamides

Repeat Units & Monomers

Predicting & Deducing the Type of Polymerisation

Degradability of Polymers

36. Organic Synthesis

Elucidating Organic Molecules

Multi-step Synthetic Routes

Analysis of Synthetic Routes

37. Analytical Techniques

Thin-Layer Chromatography

Gas/Liquid Chromatography

Interpreting Rf Values in GL Chromatography

Interpreting & Explaining Carbon-13 NMR Spectroscopy

Predicting Carbon-13 NMR Spectra

Proton (1H) NMR Spectroscopy

Tetramethylsilane (TMS) & Deuterated Solvents

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