A-level Chemistry/OCR (Salters)/The Elements of Life

Haemoglobin relies on iron atoms to bind oxygen molecules so they can be transported around the body

The Elements of Life is the first unit in the Salters Advanced Chemistry course. It reviews essential topics from GCSE-level chemistry and introduces new content, including:

• the structure, properties, and behaviour of individual atoms
• the interaction of atoms with electromagnetic radiation
• the three main types of chemical bonding
• chemical patterns in the periodic table
• the shapes of molecules

Chemical Storylines sections

• EL1: What are we made of?
• EL2: Take two elements...
• EL3: Where do the chemical elements come from?
• EL4: Looking for patterns in elements
• EL5: The molecules of life
• EL6: Summary

Chemical Ideas sections

• 1.1 Amount of substance
• 1.2 Balanced equations
• 2.1 A simple model of the atom
• 2.2 Nuclear reactions
• 2.3 Electronic structure: shells
• 3.1 Chemical bonding
• 3.3 The shapes of molecules
• 6.1 Light and electrons
• 11.1 Periodicity
• 11.2 The s block: Groups 1 and 2

Activities

• EL1 How do we know the formula of a compound?
• EL2.1 How much iron is in a sample of an iron compound?
• EL2.2 Making the most of your study of chemistry
• EL3.1 Investigating the chemistry of Group 1 and Group 2 elements
• EL3.2 How do the physical properties of elements change across a row in the Periodic Table?
• EL3.3 Check your notes on The Elements of Life : Part 1
• EL4.1 How do we know about atoms?
• EL4.2 Isotopic abundance and relative atomic mass
• EL4.3 Investigating a spectroscopic technique
• EL4.4 Radon in the rocks
• EL5 Balloon molecules
• EL6 Check your notes on The Elements of Life : Part 2

External links

• EL unit map
• EL Check Your Notes #1
• EL Check Your Notes #2