A-level Chemistry/WJEC

This is the branch of the A-level Chemistry book, designed to follow the WJEC and eduqas specifications. It is not endorsed by WJEC or eduqas. It will hopefully be useful as a revision guide, or for those seeking a basic grounding in the principles of the course.

WJEC A-level Chemistry homepage

WJEC Chemistry Data Booklet, issued in every exam

AS Units

• UNIT 1
  • 1.1 Formulae and Equations
  • 1.2 Basic Ideas About Atoms
  • 1.3 Chemical Calculations
  • 1.4 Bonding
  • 1.5 Solid Structures
  • 1.6 The Periodic Table
  • 1.7 Simple Equilibria and Acid-Base Reactions

• UNIT 2
  • 2.1 Thermochemistry
  • 2.2 Rates of Reaction
  • 2.3 The Wider Impact of Chemistry
  • 2.4 Organic Compounds
  • 2.5 Hydrocarbons
  • 2.6 Halogenoalkanes
  • 2.7 Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids
  • 2.8 Instrumental Analysis

A2 Units

• UNIT 3
  • 3.1 Redox and Standard Electrode Potential
  • 3.2 Redox Reactions
  • 3.3 Chemistry of the p-Block
  • 3.4 Chemistry of the d-Block Transition Metals
  • 3.5 Chemical Kinetics
  • 3.6 Enthalpy Changes for Solids and Solutions
  • 3.7 Entropy, and Feasibility of Reactions
  • 3.8 Equilibrium Constants
  • 3.9 Acid-base Equilibria

• UNIT 4
  • 4.1 Stereoisomerism
  • 4.2 Aromaticity
  • 4.3 Alcohols and phenols
  • 4.4 Aldehydes and ketones
  • 4.5 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
  • 4.6 Amines
  • 4.7 Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
  • 4.8 Organic Synthesis and Analysis

WJEC Peculiarities

Unusual topics required by WJEC:

• Radioactive decay and nuclear equations
• The CsCl lattice and an explanation of why CsCl forms a different lattice to NaCl
• Trends in solubility of Group 2 sulfates and hydroxides
• The pH of solutions of salts formed from weak acids or weak bases

• Extensive coverage of p-block elements including: inert pair effect, expansion of the octet, general properties of p-block chlorides and general trends down each group, and the properties of the two forms of boron nitride.

• Decarboxylation of carboxylic acids
• Formation of, for example, benzoic acid by oxidation of methylbenzene
• Reactions of phenols with iron(III) chloride, acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides
• Iodoform test for methyl carbonyl groups
• Enzymes

Topics not required by WJEC:

• Global warming related to IR absorption by greenhouse gases
• Plastic waste
• Fragmentation of organic molecules in mass spectrometry
• Linking chromatography to MS

• Factors affecting industrial reaction conditions

• Stereoisomerism in complex ions
• Haemoglobin and EDTA as complex ions
• Reactions of complex ions with aqueous ammonia
• Factors affecting lattice enthalpy

• Cracking and reforming of hydrocarbons
• Friedel-Crafts acylation