Switching from Aqato Edexcel

AS AND A LEVEL CHEMISTRY

Switching from AQAto Edexcel

This document is designed to help you compare the existing 2008 AQA Chemistry specification (2420) with the new 2015 Edexcel Chemistry specification.

The document gives an overview, at the topic level, of where the material covered in the existing AQAChemistry specification can be found in the new Edexcel Chemistry specification. The following tables then give a more detailed breakdown of the Edexcel specification, and highlights areas of difference. These will help you see where material that you currently teach in the AQA specification is not present in the Edexcel specification; or where the Edexcel specification incorporates material that is new to you.

As a general overview, the 2015 Edexcel Chemistry specification is split into a number of topics. At AS, these topics include: atomic structure; calculations; bonding & structure; organic chemistry of alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes and alcohols; and an introduction to kinetics, energetics and equilibria. In the second year of the A level, these topics are extended to include: further work of kinetics, energetics and equilibria; organic chemistry of carbonyls, carboxylic acids, benzene and amines; transition metals; redox equilibria; and analysis techniques.

The course has been revised to ensure that the content extends on prior learning from GCSE, and provides excellent preparation for further study. Opportunities for practical work are clearly sign-posted in the specification. The structure of the course also allows flexibility for co-teaching of AS and A level students.

As well as great chemistry within the specification, there are other ways in which we can help support your teaching on our new A level Chemistryspecification. Our free support includes:

-additional sets of question papers

-Results Plus, now with Mock Analysis service

-Exam Wizard, our online bank of past paper questions

-Getting Started Guides, with course planners

-“Getting Ready to Teach” events

-documents to help deliver the mathematics and practical aspects of the specification

-worksheets for each “core practical” in the specification

Overview of content

AQA Chemistry (2008) / Edexcel Chemistry(2015)
AS Unit 1 (CHEM1)
Foundation Chemistry
3.1.1 Atomic Structure / Topic 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
3.1.2 Amount of Substance / Topic 5: Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
3.1.3 Bonding / Topic 2: Bonding and Structure
3.1.4 Periodicity / Topic 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
3.1.5 Introduction to Organic Chemistry / Topic 6A: Introduction to organic chemistry
3.1.6 Alkanes / Topic 6B: Alkanes
AS Unit 2 (CHEM2)
Chemistry in Action
3.2.1 Energetics / Topic 8: Energetics I
3.2.2 Kinetics / Topic 9: Kinetics I
3.2.3 Equilibria / Topic 10: Equilibrium I
3.2.4 Redox reactions / Topic 3: Redox 1
3.2.5 Group 7(17), the Halogens / Topic 4B: The elements of Group 7 (halogens)
3.2.6 Group 2, the Alkaline Earth Metals / Topic 4A: The elements of Groups 1 and 2
3.2.7 Extraction of metals / n/a
3.2.8 Haloalkanes / Topic 6D: Halogenoalkanes
3.2.9 Alkenes / Topic 6C: Alkenes
3.2.10 Alcohols / Topic 6E: Alcohols
3.2.11Analytical Techniques / Topic 7: Modern Analytical Techniques I
AS Unit 3
Investigative and Practical Skills
Route T / Route X / Now assessed in two ways – directly by teachers and indirectly by examination papers
A level Unit 4 (CHEM4)
Kinetics, Equilibria and Organic Chemistry
3.4.1 Kinetics / Topic 16: Kinetics II
3.4.2 Equilibria / Topic 11: Equilibrium II
3.4.3 Acids and Bases / Topic 12: Acid-base Equilibria
3.4.4 Nomenclature and Isomerism in Organic Chemistry / Topic 6A: Introduction to organic chemistry
Topic 17A: Chirality
3.4.5 Compounds containing the Carbonyl Group / Topic 17A: Carbonyl compounds
Topic 17A: Carboxylic acids
3.4.6 Aromatic Chemistry / Topic 18A: Arenes - benzene
3.4.7 Amines / Topic 18B: Amines, amides, amino acids and proteins
3.4.8 Amino acids / Topic 18B: Amines, amides, amino acids and proteins
3.4.9 Polymers / Topic 18B: Amines, amides, amino acids and proteins
3.4.10 Organic synthesis and Analysis / Topic 19: Modern Analytical Techniques II
A level Unit 5 (CHEM5)
Energetics, Redox and Inorganic Chemistry
3.5.1 Thermodynamics / Topic 13A: Lattice energy
Topic 13B: Entropy
3.5.2 Periodicity / n/a
3.5.3 Redox Equilibria / Topic 14: Redox II
3.5.4 Transition Metals / Topic 15A: Principles of transition metal chemistry
3.5.5 Reactions of Inorganic Compounds in Aqueous Solution / Topic 15B: Reactions of transition metal elements
A level Unit 6
Investigative and Practical Skills
Route T / Route X / Now assessed in two ways – directly by teachers and indirectly by examination papers

In-depth comparison

Edexcel Chemistry (2015) / AQA (2008) / What’s new for you / What do you no longer teach
Topic 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.1
3.1.4 /

mass spectra of diatomic molecules, including chlorine
atomic emission spectra
shapes of s and p orbitals
trends in physical properties across Period 2

Topic 2A: Bonding / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.3 /

the nature of the covalent bond

Topic 2B: Structure / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.3
Topic 3: Redox I / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.4
Topic 4A: The elements of Groups 1 and 2 / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.6 /

trends in thermal stability of nitrates and carbonates
flame tests

Topic 4B: The elements of Group 7 (halogens) / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.5 /

chlorine reaction with hot alkali

Topic 4C: Analysis of inorganic compounds / N/A /

tests for carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, sulfate and ammonium ions

Topic 5: Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.2 /

calculations using the Avogadro constant
calculations using uncertainties and errors

Topic 6A: Introduction to organic chemistry / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.5
3.4.4
Topic 6B: Alkanes / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.1.6
Topic 6C: Alkenes / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.9
Topic 6D: Halogenoalkanes / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.8
Topic 6E: Alcohols / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.10 /

halogenation reactions
preparation and purification of an organic liquid

Topic 7A: Mass spectrometry / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.11
Topic 7B: Infrared (IR) spectroscopy / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.11 /

connection between global warming and absorption of IR radiation by atmospheric gases

Topic 8: Energetics I / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.1
Topic 9: Kinetics I / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.2 /

calculation of reaction rate from data and graphs

Topic 10: Equilibrium I / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.2.3
Topic 11: Equilibrium II / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.2 /

equilibrium constant, Kp and associated calculations

Topic 12: Acid-base Equilibria / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.3
Topic 13A: Lattice energy / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.5.1
Topic 13B: Entropy / 3 This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.5.1 /

use of ΔStotal = ΔSsystem + ΔSsurroundings
use of ΔG = –RTlnK

Topic 14: Redox II / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.5.3 /

rechargeable cells

Topic 15A: Principles of transition metal chemistry / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.5.4
Topic 15B: Reactions of transition metal elements / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.5.5 /

reactions of Al3+ ions

Topic 16: Kinetics II / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.1 /

use of rate equations to provide evidence for SN1 and SN2 mechanisms
use of the Arrhenius method (graphical) to find the activation energy for a reaction

Topic 17A: Chirality / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.4
Topic 17B: Carbonyl compounds / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.5 /

use of LiAlH4
reactions with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and iodine

use of NaBH4

Topic 17C: Carboxylic acids / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.5 /

reactions with LiAlH4 and PCl5

Topic 18A: Arenes - benzene / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.6 /

Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions
the bromination of phenol

Topic 18B: Amines, amides, amino acids and proteins / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.7
3.4.8
3.4.9
Topic 18C: Organic Synthesis / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.10 /

use of Grignard reagents

Topic 19A: Mass Spectrometry / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.11
Topic 19B: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.11
Topic 19C: Chromatography / This topic covers material from the AQA specification topics:
3.4.11

extraction of metals

Note: a number of the areas highlighted as “What’s new for you” will also be additional content in the revised AQA 2015 Chemistry A level.