Doc Brown's Chemistry

Edexcel GCE AS CHEMISTRY 8CH01 Edexcel GCE AS advanced subsidiary chemistry course

My unofficial support for this Edexcel GCE AS chemistry syllabus. Scroll down and each module, topic or unit of the specification is linked to potentially useful sections on this site.

EDEXCEL A2 chemistry NEW syllabus * Edexcel 360 GCSE science-CHEMISTRY

 READ CAREFULLY  My 'A level' chemistry notes are far from complete BUT by clicking on the links for [ORGANIC], [INORGANIC], [PHYSICAL-THEORETICAL] and [useful UK based GCSE/IGCSE revision notes] you should find things to help on a particular topic.  By following a link you will find some useful information and use the sub-indexes of key words or headings at the top of each page. To return to this page click on the <== back on the browser link bar. All the syllabus-topic-unit titles are taken from the official syllabus. I do not have time to deliver extended responses to email questions and do NOT ask for past papers. * EMAIL query?comment

Summary of Edexcel GCE AS CHEMISTRY Units and Contents Links

AS Unit 1 Core Principles of Chemistry

Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance  *  Energetics

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table  *  Bonding

Introductory Organic Chemistry  *  Alkanes  *  Alkenes

AS Unit 2 Application of Core Principles of Chemistry

Shapes of Molecules and Ions * Intermediate Bonding and Bond Polarity

Intermolecular Forces * Redox * The Periodic Table - Groups 2 and 7 * Kinetics

Chemical Equilibria * Organic Chemistry * Alcohols * Halogenoalkanes * Mechanisms

Mass Spectra and IR * Green Chemistry *

AS Unit 3 Chemistry Laboratory Skills 1

Unit 1 Core Principles of Chemistry

Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance * Energetics * Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table * Bonding * Introductory Organic Chemistry * Alkanes * Alkenes

Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Elements, Compounds, Mixtures Notes - Much basic chemistry on this page e.g. definitions and examples of atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures

2. Writing and balancing equations, valency and formulae

3. Chemical Calculations index - 1. to 16. sections of explanation-examples and multiple choice and type in answer quizzes links are built into the notes, designed up to higher GCSE and basic GCE-AS/IB calculations

4. section 1. Relative atomic mass (A_r) and isotopic mass

5. section 2. Relative formula mass and relative molecular mass (M_r)

6. section 3. Law of Conservation of Mass and simple reacting mass calculations

7. section 4. % composition by mass of a compound

8. section 5. Empirical formula from reacting masses

9. section 6. Reacting masses of reactants and products and actual percent % yield, theoretical yield and atom economy

10. section 7. Introducing moles - the connection of moles, mass and formula mass

11. section 8. Using moles to deduce empirical/molecular formula of a compound/molecule starting with reacting masses or % composition by mass

12. section 9. moles and molar gas volume and Avogadro's Law

13. section 10. Reacting gas volume ratios, Avogadro's Law and Gay-Lussac's Law

14. section 11. Making up solutions - concentration & molarity

15. section 14. % actual and theoretical yield, dilution calculations, atom economy, volumetric titration apparatus, water of crystallisation, how much reactant is needed?

Energetics (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Basic notes of exothermic and endothermic reactions and calculation of enthalpy changes from 'simple' calorimetry experiments and resulting data

2. GCSE Multiple choice quiz on Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions

3. Thermodynamics Part 1: Thermochemistry - Calorimetry experiments - Enthalpies of reaction,formation, combustion and bond dissociation are explained with exemplar calculations

4. Enthalpy and Bond Energy Calculation Questions  (answers)

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. GCSE Summary notes of the Periodic Table - A basic introduction: Explanation and overview of Groups, Periods, Series etc. with links to more detailed notes on the Group 1 Alkali Metals, Group 7 Halogens, Group 0 Noble Gases and Transition Metals.

2. Periodic Table Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Notes Part 1 "Historical Introduction" and the full modern periodic table

3. GCSE-AS Atomic Structure Notes including mass spectrometry of elements - the structure of atoms, isotopes, nuclear structure notation, 'simple' electronic structure and the Periodic Table and mass spectrometry for isotope analysis and calculation of relative atomic mass (A_r)

4. Periodic Table Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Notes Part 2 "Electronic Structure and Ionisation Energies" - Electron arrangements - electron configurations and the Periodic Table - s, p, d and f blocks - ionization energy patterns, section on hydrogen spectrum and emission spectroscopy (3 linked pages)

5. Periodic Table Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Notes Part 5 "Survey of Period 3 Elements and Trends" (3 linked pages)

6. Periodic Table Notes Part 11: Compiled tables of data on Groups 1-7,0 and 3d-block-Transition Metals

7. Data-periodicity graphs for elements Z = 1 to 20 Period 1, Period 2, Period 3 and start of Period 4

8.  periodicity graph for elements Z = 1-38 Period 1, Period 2, Period 3, Period 4 and start of Period 5

Bonding (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Introduction to BONDING

2. Revision notes on the basics of Ionic BONDING and an ionic lattice

3. Revision notes on the basics of Covalent BONDING and small molecules and their properties

4. Revision notes on the basics of Metallic BONDING, properties and uses of metals

Introductory Organic Chemistry (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Extra GCSE Organic Chemistry Notes - Alkane & alkene homologous series 'families', alcohols like ethanol, other organic molecule families e.g. carboxylic acids, esters, polymers, natural molecules - carbohydrates, sugars, amino acids, proteins and cooking, natural fats & oils, hydrogenation of fats, soaps, Vitamin C, Drugs-analgesics, Food Additives and CFC's, Ozone layer and free radicals. Use sub-index and keyword list at top of page and can be read as a basic introductory view of what 'organic chemistry' is all about without the need for too many concepts!

2. A summary of homologous series, functional group names and structure in Organic Chemistry

Alkanes (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. GCSE notes on Oil and useful products - The hydrocarbons from oil and their uses e.g. fuels-combustion, simple addition reactions of alkenes and test for alkenes, polymers/uses of plastics, fossil fuels and environmental problems etc. See also Alternative and Fossil Fuel Survey and Global warming discussion page.

2. Revision notes on the structure & naming (nomenclature) of ALKANES (and cycloalkanes) notes, including nomenclature of isomers

3. Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of alkanes

4.  Organic Chemistry ISOMERISM general definition (use sub-index at top of page)

5.  Organic Chemistry (1) STRUCTURAL ISOMERISM general definition (use sub-index at top of page)

6.  MECHANISM Introduction and terms used in organic chemistry (on the mechanism pages the type of reaction, basic reaction equations and conditions are quoted which may act as a suitable reference, there is also a reaction index on each page)

7.  Mechanism of the free radical chlorination/bromination of alkanes to make halogenoalkanes (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

Alkenes (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. GCSE notes on Oil and useful products - The hydrocarbons from oil and their uses e.g. fuels-combustion, simple addition reactions of alkenes and test for alkenes, polymers/uses of plastics, fossil fuels and environmental problems

2. Revision notes on the structure & naming (nomenclature) of ALKENES (and cycloalkanes) notes, including nomenclature of isomers

3. Multiple choice Quiz on the Structure and naming (nomenclature) of ALKENES

4. Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of ALKENES

5.  Organic Chemistry (2) STEREOISOMERISM general definition (use sub-index at top of page)

6.  Organic Chemistry (2a) Geometrical Isomerism (use sub-index at top of page)

7.  Mechanism of electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to alkenes to make bromoalkanes (introduction and example of electrophilic addition to alkenes) (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

8.  Mechanism of electrophilic addition of bromine to alkenes with pure bromine to make dibromoalkanes  (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

9.  Mechanism of electrophilic addition of bromine to alkenes using bromine water to make bromo-alcohols (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

Unit 2 Application of Core Principles of Chemistry

Shapes of Molecules and Ions * Intermediate Bonding and Bond Polarity * Intermolecular Forces * Redox * The Periodic Table - Groups 2 and 7 * Kinetics * Chemical Equilibria * Organic Chemistry * Alcohols * Halogenoalkanes * Mechanisms * Mass Spectra and IR * Green Chemistry *

Shapes of Molecules and Ions (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Revision notes on the basics of Covalent BONDING and giant structures and their properties and uses

2. Revision notes on shapes and bond angles of simple molecules (VSEPR), ions, transition metal complexes and a section on shape and bond angles in organic molecules

Intermediate Bonding and Bond Polarity (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Revision notes on Inorganic redox reactions - Part 1 section on introducing electronegativity

2.  Equilibria Part 8 section on bond polarity in organic molecules, boiling point and intermolecular forces

Intermolecular Forces (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1.  Equilibria Part 8 section on bond polarity in organic molecules, boiling point and intermolecular forces

2.  Organic Chemistry (1a) Chain isomerism (Ex 1a.1 discusses alkane isomers, intermolecular forces and boiling point)

Redox (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Revision notes on Inorganic redox reactions - Part 1 electronegativity, explaining oxidation and reduction reactions and oxidation state/oxidation number changes

2. Revision notes on Inorganic redox reactions - Part 2 analysing and constructing full redox equations from half-cell reactions

The Periodic Table - Groups 2 and 7 (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Periodic Table Notes Part 11: Compiled tables of data on Groups 1-7,0 and 3d-block-Transition Metals

2. Periodic Table: detailed Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Notes Part 7 Group 1 Alkali Metals and Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals - detailed revision notes

3. Multiple choice Quiz on Group 1 Alkali Metals and Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals (easy start!)

4. Part 9 Group 7/17 The Halogens 9.1 Introduction, trends & Group 7/17 data * 9.2 Halogen displacement reaction and reactivity trend  * 9.3 Reactions of halogens with other elements * 9.4 Reaction between halide salts and conc. sulfuric acid * 9.5 Tests for halogens and halide ions * 9.6 Extraction of halogens from natural sources * 9.7 Uses of halogens & compounds * 9.8 Oxidation & Reduction - more on redox reactions of halogens & halide ions * 9.9 Volumetric analysis - titrations involving halogens or halide ions * 9.10 Ozone, CFC's and halogen organic chemistry links * 9.11 Chemical bonding in halogen compounds * 9.12 Miscellaneous aspects of halogen chemistry

5. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS: Chemical Identity Tests - Gives descriptions of lots of tests for gases, ions - cations and anions, organic functional groups/homologous series etc. (keyword alphabetical index at top of page)

6. section 11. Making up solutions - concentration & molarity

7. section 12. Volumetric acid-alkali titration easy calculations - apparatus/analysis

8. Structured Question worksheet including acid-base volumetric titration calculations (answers)

Kinetics (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. GCSE Notes for the basics of rates of reactions - kinetics

2. KINETICS - advanced rates of reactions revision notes: temperature effect and activation energy, homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts, obtaining data, rate expressions and orders of reaction, deducing orders of reaction

3. KINETICS - advanced rates of reactions revision notes: Selected case studies of kinetics and rate expressions and calculations, deriving the activation energy E_a from kinetics-rates data and Kinetic versus thermodynamic stability

Chemical Equilibria (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1.  Starter GCSE Notes on reversible reactions, equilibrium, ammonia synthesis

2. Advanced Chemistry Equilibria Part 1. Dynamic molecular equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle

3. Equilibria Part 3 equilibrium and industrial processes (can ignore the Kp/Kc equilibrium expressions and concentrate on the application of Le Chatelier's Principle)

Organic Chemistry (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

Alcohols (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Revision notes on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of aliphatic ALCOHOLS - classification into primary (prim), secondary (sec) and tertiary (tert) - notes include isomers and other related compounds which may not be needed

2. Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of aliphatic ALCOHOLS (includes ethers which may not be needed)

3. Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of aliphatic ALCOHOLS (includes ethers which may not be

4. Extra GCSE Organic Chemistry Notes - section on alcohols like ethanol Use sub-index and keyword list at top of page.

5. Organic synthesis redox reactions - including oxidation of alcohols (use top summary table index)

6. Qualitative Analysis: Tests for organic functional groups notes (use alphabetical index for homologous series, reagents etc.) (alphabetical keyword index at top of page)

Halogenoalkanes (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. Revision notes on the structure and naming of HALOGENOALKANES/HALOALKANES and classification into primary (prim)/secondary (sec)/tertiary (tert) (including nomenclature of many isomers

2. Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of HALOGENOALKANES (haloalkanes)

3. Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of HALOGENOALKANES (haloalkanes)

4.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes/alkyl halides) Nucleophilic substitution by water/hydroxide ion [S_N1 or S_N2, hydrolysis to alcohol] (introduction to, and example of, nucleophilic substitution in halogenoalkanes) (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

5.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes, alkyl halides) Nucleophilic substitution by ammonia to give primary amine (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

6.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes, alkyl halides) Elimination of hydrogen bromide to give an alkene (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

Mechanisms (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1.  MECHANISM Introduction and terms used in organic chemistry (on the mechanism pages the type of reaction, basic reaction equations and conditions are quoted which may act as a suitable reference, there is also a reaction index on each page)

2.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes/alkyl halides) Nucleophilic substitution by water/hydroxide ion [S_N1 or S_N2, hydrolysis to alcohol] (introduction to, and example of, nucleophilic substitution in halogenoalkanes) (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

3.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes, alkyl halides) Nucleophilic substitution by ammonia to give primary amine (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

4.  Mechanism: Halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes, alkyl halides) Elimination of hydrogen bromide to give an alkene (includes reagents, reaction conditions and exemplar balanced equations showing product formation)

5. Extra GCSE Organic Chemistry Notes - section 7. on CFC's, Ozone layer and free radicals

6.  Mechanism of the free radical chlorination/bromination of alkanes to make halogenoalkanes

Mass Spectra and IR (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. -

Green Chemistry (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. -

Unit 3 Chemistry Laboratory Skills 1

Help for Tasks in Activity b (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. A summary of homologous series, functional group names and structure in Organic Chemistry

2. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS: Chemical Identity Tests - Gives descriptions of lots of tests for gases, ions - cations and anions, organic functional groups/homologous series etc. (keyword alphabetical index at top of page)

3. Periodic Table: detailed Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Notes Part 7 Group 1 Alkali Metals and Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals - detailed revision notes

4. Group 7 The Halogens - GCSE Notes - data, physical properties and chemistry of elements chlorine, bromine, iodine and their compounds, electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride/brine and the uses of the products - chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide. Alphabetical keyword-phrase list at top of page.

Help for tasks in Activity c (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. section 11. Making up solutions - concentration & molarity

2. section 12. Volumetric acid-alkali titration easy calculations - apparatus/analysis

3. Structured Question worksheet including acid-base volumetric titration calculations (answers)

4. Basic notes of exothermic and endothermic reactions and calculation of enthalpy changes from 'simple' calorimetry experiments and resulting data

5. Enthalpy and Bond Energy Calculation Questions  (answers)

6. redox titration calculation questions (all with worked out answers) includes some iodine-sodium thiosulfate titration questions

Help for tasks in Activity d (Edexcel GCE AS Chemistry)

1. section 6. Reacting masses of reactants and products and actual percent % yield, theoretical yield and atom economy

2. section 14. including how much of reactants are needed?