Chemistry:

The National 4/5 Chemistry Course aims to make pupils aware of the chemical basis of the world around them – for example, food, clothes, and the environment are all results of Chemistry in action.

The Course also aims to show something of the contribution of Chemistry to the quality of everyday life; for example, in searching for better fuels and for better medicines, in fighting against corrosion, in developing and improving substances to help crops grow and in producing plastics and other useful materials.

It is important for pupils to be aware of the problems of pollution caused by misusing materials and the dangers of squandering resources. A proper awareness of these problems and dangers, along with possible solutions, can only be gained through a study of Chemistry.

The choice of National 4 or 5 Chemistry is dependent upon progress and attainment demonstrated in S1, S2. Learners who have experienced breadth and depth of learning across Fourth Level BGE Science Experiences and Outcomes will follow the National 5 Course. Learners who have experienced breadth and depth of learning across Third Level BGE Science Experiences and Outcomes will follow the National 4 Course.

 

The National 4 Course progresses through three units of study:

  • Chemical Changes and Structure: Looks at factors affecting rates of reactions, atomic structure and bonding, chemical formulae and naming compounds, relative formula mass and chemical equations. Learners will look at acids and bases and the pH scale, neutralisation reactions and salts, metal and non-metal oxides, and look at pollution due to non-metal oxides

 

  • Natures Chemistry: Learners will look at the nature of fuels and environmental issues, complete and incomplete combustion as an example of oxidation, production of fuels and other crude oil by-products using fractional distillation, cracking and reforming. Homologous hydrocarbon families e.g. alkanes will be studied – including naming rules, structural, molecular and empirical formulae, conservation of mass, endo and exothermic reactions, bio fuels. Learners will look at practical applications of chemistry in consumer products and the use of plants to end-products e.g. medicines.

 

  • Chemistry in Society: Learners will look at substances such as metals, ceramics and plastics. Various types of reactions will be looked at including metals from ores, electro-chemical cells and corrosion.

 

 

The National 5 Course covers the following topics in three units:

  • Chemical Changes and Structure: Looks at factors affecting rates of reactions, atomic structure and bonding related to properties of materials, covalent bonding, ionic compounds, chemical formulae, calculations involving the mole and balanced equations, percentage composition, acids and bases , pH, neutralisation reactions, preparing soluble salts.

 

  • Natures Chemistry: Learners will look systematic carbon chemistry, alkanes, alkenes, everyday consumer products i.e. alcohols and carboxylic acids, energy from fuels,

 

  • Chemistry in Society: Learners will look at substances such as metals, metallic bonding, reactions of metals, redox, extraction of metals, electrochemical cells, plastics – addition polymerisation, representation of the structure of monomers and polymers, fertilisers – commercial production of fertilisers, Haber and Ostwald processes, Nuclear chemistry – radiation, nuclear equations, half-life, common chemical apparatus, General practical techniques – analytical methods and reporting experimental work.

 

Assessment

Learners following the National 4 Course will complete the three units above, which are all internally-assessed, as well as an Added Value Unit. The Added Value Unit at National 4 Level will comprise a project and a formal test. Both of these are internally-assessed by the class teacher and externally-verified by SQA.

The National 5 Course will include an external End of Year Exam (100 marks) and a written Assignment (20 marks). The exam is worth 80% of the overall assessment of National 5 Chemistry with the remaining 20% from the assignment.

 

 

Chemistry Higher

Course Structure: units cover the following content areas:

  • Chemical Changes and Structure (H)             3 SCQF credits (20 hours)
  • Researching Chemistry (H)                            3 SCQF credits (20 hours)
  • Nature’s Chemistry (H)                                  6 SCQF credits (40 hours)
  • Chemistry in Society (H)                                6 SCQF credits (40 hours)

 

All courses include 40 hours over and above the 120 hours for component units.  This may be used for induction, extending the range of learning and teaching approaches, support, consolidation, integration of learning and preparation for external assessment.

 

Recommended Entry

While entry is at the discretion of the department, candidates will normally be expected to have attained one of the following awards or its equivalent:

  • National 5 Chemistry, at an A/B grade.

 

Together with:

  • National 5 Mathematics.

 

Assessment

Learners following the Higher Chemistry course will complete the three units and an assignment. The assignment must address the key purposes and aims of the Course, as defined in the Course rationale. The learner will draw on and extend the skills they have learned during the Course. These will be assessed within a question paper and an assignment, requiring demonstration of the breadth of skills, knowledge and understanding acquired from across the Units in unfamiliar contexts and/or integrated ways.