UMs topic list for end of year examination 2023
Chemical basics
Pupils should be able to:
distinguish between elements, mixtures and compounds
distinguish between a pure substance and a mixture
determine the number of atoms within a given chemical formula, including brackets
naming elements and compounds
balance a chemical equation
use state symbols (s), (l), (aq), and (g) in a chemical equation
Atomic Structure and flame tests
Pupils should know that:
Atoms consist of a central nucleus, composed of protons and neutrons, surrounded by orbiting electrons
The relative mass and relative charge of a proton, neutron and electron
The periodic table is organized into groups and periods
The terms atomic number, mass number, isotopes and relative atomic mass (Ar)
Pupils should be able to:
Understand that the Periodic Table is the arrangement of elements in a table in order of atomic number
Deduce the electronic configurations of the first twenty elements of the Periodic Table
Relate similarity of electronic configuration to similarity of the chemical properties of the elements
Appreciate the importance of the noble gas (group 0) electronic configurations in explaining their lack of
reactivity
Relate periodicity to electronic configuration
Deduce the number of outer electrons in a main group element from its position in the Periodic Table.
Calculate the relative atomic mass (Ar) of an element from the relative abundances of its isotopes
Flame tests
Describe how to carry out a flame test
Know the colours formed in flame tests for these positive ions:
- Li+ is red
- Na+ is yellow
- K+ is lilac
- Ca2+ is orange-red
- Cu2+ is blue-green
Bonding
Pupils should know that:
Ions are formed from atoms by the gain or loss of electrons
Know the following charges:
o Metals in groups 1, 2 and 3
o Non-metals in groups 5, 6 and 7
o Ag+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Zn2+
o H+, OH-, NH4+, CO32-. NO3-, SO42-
Know that anion refers to a negative ion
Know that cation refers to a positive ion
There is a strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions in the ionic lattice, called an ionic
bond, and this extends throughout the ionic structure
Ionic compounds, such as NaCl and MgO, have high melting points and high boiling points because of strong
electrostatic forces between ions
MgO has a much higher melting point and boiling point than NaCl because of the increased charges on the
ions
Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between outer electron shells of atoms, and that these
bonds are strong
The covalent bond is the result of attraction between the bonding pair of electrons and the nuclei of the atoms
involved in the bond
Substances with simple molecular structures are usually gases, liquids or solids with low melting points and
boiling points, and be able to explain this in terms of the relatively weak forces between the molecules
Substances with giant covalent structures a have high melting points because many strong covalent bonds
would have to be broken
Covalent compounds do not conduct electricity due to the absence of mobile ions or electrons (with the
exception of graphite)
Diamond, graphite and C60 fullerene are allotropes of carbon; describe and explain the giant molecular covalent
structures of diamond and graphite and relate their structures to their use - graphite as a lubricant and diamond
in cutting; describe the simple molecular structure of fullerene and how it’s properties relate to its structure
Graphite conducts electricity due to the presence of mobile, delocalised electrons in its structure
Know how to represent a metallic lattice by a 2D diagram
A metal is a giant structure consisting of a lattice of positive metal ions surrounded by delocalised electrons
An alloy is a mixture of a metal and one or more elements, usually other metals or carbon, and know that alloys
are harder than pure metals
Pupils should be able to:
Link electronic configuration and ionic charge
Write formulae for ionic compounds by using their charges
Use the dot and cross model to explain the formation of an ionic compound by electron transfer, limited to
combinations of groups 1, 2, 3 and groups 5, 6, 7.
Describe and draw an ionic crystal as a giant three-dimensional ionic structure held together by attraction
between oppositely charged ions
Explain why ionic compounds conduct electricity when molten or in aqueous solution, but not as solids, in
terms of movement of ions
Use dot and cross diagrams to represent single covalent bonds in hydrogen, chlorine, water, methane(CH4),
ammonia, halogens and hydrogen halides
Use dot and cross diagrams to represent the electron arrangement in more complex covalent molecules such
as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ethane(C2H6), ethene(C2H4) and organic molecules that include halogens
Explain why covalent bonds are strong in terms of electrostatic attractions
Describe and explain the physical properties of a typical simple covalent compound and explain why their
melting point increases with increasing molecular mass
Relate the structure and bonding in a metal to physical properties such as conductivity and malleability,
explaining the uses of aluminium, copper, iron and steel (low-carbon, high-carbon and stainless) in terms of
their properties
Explain why alloys are harder that pure metals
The Periodic Table
Pupils should know that:
The Periodic Table is the arrangement of elements in a table according to atomic number. The resulting list
can then be arranged in rows so that elements with similar properties are in the same columns, known as
Groups.
Elements may be classified as ‘metals’ and ‘non-metals’ on the basis of their electrical conductivity and acid-
base character, and that some elements exhibit a mixture of the properties of metals and non-metals
Metal oxides are basic and non-metal oxides are acidic in character.
Metals consist of giant structures in which the electrons from the highest occupied (outer) energy levels of
metal atoms are free to move through the whole structure. These electrons:
o hold the atoms together in a regular structure;
o allow the metal to conduct heat and electricity;
The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table are known as the alkali metals:
o are metals with a low density (the first three in the group are less dense than and therefore float on
water);
o react with non-metals to form ionic compounds in which the metal ion carries a 1+ charge. The
hydroxides, halides, sulfates, nitrates and carbonates of the Group 1 elements are white solids which
dissolve in water to form colourless solutions;
o react with water releasing hydrogen;
o form oxides and hydroxides that dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions.
When a piece of lithium, sodium or potassium is placed in cold water the metal floats, may melt and moves
around the surface of the water. The metal reacts with the water to form a metal hydroxide solution and
hydrogen gas. The more reactive the metal, the more vigorous is the reaction with water.
The reaction between the alkali metals and air provide supporting evidence for the reactivity trend
In Group 1, the further down the group an element is:
o the more reactive the element
o the lower its melting point and boiling point
Fewer than one quarter of the elements are non-metals. Non-metal elements are found in the Groups on the
right hand side of the periodic table.
The identities of the four most abundant gases present in air and their approximate percentage by volume
The elements in Group 7 have the typical properties of non-metals:
o they have low melting and boiling points (the first two Group 7 elements are gases and the third,
bromine, is a liquid) and know the trend in increasing melting and boiling points down the group
o they are poor conductors of heat and electricity even when solid or liquid.
The elements in Group 7 of the periodic table (known as the halogens):
o consist of molecules which are made up of pairs of atoms
o form ionic salts with metals in which the chloride, bromide or iodide ion (halide ions) carries a 1-
charge;
o form molecular compounds with other non-metallic elements.
In Group 7, the further down the group an element is:
o the less reactive the element
o the higher its melting and boiling point
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water to form acidic solutions and that these reactions lead to
the problem of acid rain
The elements in Group 0 of the periodic table (known as the noble gases):
o are all chemically very unreactive gases;
o exist as individual atoms rather than as diatomic gases like other gaseous elements;
o are unreactive and monatomic because their highest occupied energy level is full so that atoms have
no tendency to gain, to lose or to share electrons.
The electronic configurations of the first twenty elements of the Periodic Table: the periodic table can be seen
as an arrangement of the elements in terms of their electronic structure.
Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties because they have similar electronic
configurations,
Elements in the same group the same number of electrons in the highest occupied (outer) energy level. The
higher this energy level:
o the more easily electrons are lost;
o the less easily electrons are gained.
These ideas explain the trends in the reactivity of elements in Groups 1 and 7 of the periodic table.
Know the environmental problems caused by excess carbon dioxide emissions
Pupils should be able to:
Recall families of elements including the alkali metals (Group 1) and the halogens (Group 7).
Describe the reactions of the Group 1 elements with water and recognize that the reactivities of these
elements with water provide a basis for their recognition as a family of elements as well as the trend in
reactivity of these elements
Make predictions about the properties of other elements and their compounds in Group 1
Recall the colours and physical states of the Group 7 elements at room temperature
Describe similarities in the chemistry of the Group 7 elements which establish them as a family of elements
Recall that a more reactive halogen will displace a less reactive halogen from a solution of one of its salts
Recall the interconversion of halogen and halide ion and therefore understand these displacement reactions
to be redox reactions
Recall the colour changes associated with halogen/halide displacement reactions and how these provide
evidence for the trend in reactivity
Make predictions about the properties of other halogens in this group.
Describe the reactions with oxygen in air of magnesium, copper, hydrogen, and sulfur
Describe experiments involving the reaction of elements such as copper, iron and phosphorus with air to
determine the percentage by volume of oxygen in the air
Relate periodicity to electronic configuration, including:
o the correlation of charges of ions with the position of an element in the Periodic Table
o the relationship between group number, number of outer electrons and metallic-nonmetallic character
across periods.
