AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 Revision Checklist

5.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table

12 sub-topics · 1 required practical.

• Atoms, elements and compounds — Define each term; use chemical symbols and formulae.
• Mixtures and separating techniques — Filtration, crystallisation, simple/fractional distillation, chromatography.
• Required practical: chromatography of inksRequired practical — Calculate Rf values and identify components.
• History of the atom — Plum-pudding → Rutherford → Bohr → neutron; link experimental evidence.
• Atomic structure — Sub-atomic particles, relative mass, relative charge; deduce protons/neutrons/electrons.
• Isotopes and relative atomic mass — Calculate Ar from isotopic abundance.
• Electronic structure — Write configurations up to 2,8,8 and link to position in the periodic table.
• The periodic table — Mendeleev’s arrangement and how the modern table is organised by proton number.
• Group 0 — Electronic configuration, unreactivity, trend in boiling points.
• Group 1 — Trend in reactivity with water; predict products and balanced equations.
• Group 7 — Trend in reactivity; displacement reactions of halide salts.
• Transition metals (Chemistry only)Triple only — Compare with Group 1 — properties and catalysis.

5.2 Bonding, structure and the properties of matter

11 sub-topics.

• States of matter — Use particle model to explain melting and boiling and limitations of the model.
• Ionic bonding — Dot-and-cross diagrams; describe transfer of electrons; predict formulae of ionic compounds.
• Covalent bonding — Dot-and-cross/displayed formulae for small molecules and giant covalent structures.
• Metallic bonding — Describe sea of delocalised electrons; explain conductivity and malleability.
• Properties of ionic compounds
• Properties of small molecules — Explain low melting/boiling points using intermolecular forces.
• Polymers
• Giant covalent structures — Diamond, graphite, silicon dioxide — link structure to properties.
• Allotropes of carbon — Graphene, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes; uses.
• Alloys
• Nanoparticles (Chemistry only)Triple only — Size, surface area : volume ratio, uses and risks.

5.3 Quantitative chemistry

13 sub-topics · 7 Higher-only.

• Conservation of mass — Balance symbol equations including state symbols.
• Relative formula mass (Mr)
• Mass changes in reactions involving gases (Higher)Higher
• Uncertainty and significant figures
• Moles (Higher)Higher — Use n = m/Mr; Avogadro's constant.
• Amounts in equations (Higher)Higher — Balance equations using moles; calculate masses of reactants/products.
• Limiting reactants (Higher)Higher
• Concentration in g/dm³
• Concentration in mol/dm³ (Higher)Higher
• Percentage yield (Chemistry only)Triple only — Calculate %yield; explain reasons for yield < 100%.
• Atom economy (Chemistry only)Triple only
• Titration calculations (Chemistry only, Higher)HigherTriple only
• Molar gas volume (Chemistry only, Higher)HigherTriple only — 24 dm³ at rtp.

5.4 Chemical changes

14 sub-topics · 3 required practicals · 2 Higher-only.

• Metal oxides — oxidation and reduction
• Reactivity series — Explain in terms of tendency to lose electrons; predict displacement reactions.
• Extraction of metals from ores — Reduction with carbon; metals more reactive than carbon must be electrolysed.
• Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (Higher)Higher — Write half equations; OIL RIG.
• Reactions of acids with metals
• Neutralisation — Salt + water; predict products from acid + base/carbonate/alkali.
• Required practical: preparation of a soluble saltRequired practical
• pH and neutralisation — Strong vs weak acids; relationship between pH and H⁺ concentration (Higher).
• Required practical: titration (Chemistry only)Required practicalTriple only
• Electrolysis — Identify electrolyte, anode, cathode; predict products of molten ionic compounds.
• Electrolysis of aqueous solutions — Predict products; explain why hydrogen/oxygen often form.
• Required practical: electrolysis of aqueous solutionsRequired practical
• Electrolysis to extract aluminium
• Half equations at electrodes (Higher)Higher

5.5 Energy changes

6 sub-topics · 1 required practical · 1 Higher-only.

• Exothermic and endothermic reactions — Examples (combustion, neutralisation vs thermal decomposition).
• Reaction profiles — Sketch profiles; identify activation energy and overall energy change.
• Required practical: temperature changesRequired practical — Use a polystyrene cup to measure temperature change for neutralisation/displacement.
• Bond energies (Higher)Higher — Calculate overall energy change using bond-energy data.
• Cells and batteries (Chemistry only)Triple only — Voltage depends on metals used; rechargeable vs non-rechargeable.
• Fuel cells (Chemistry only)Triple only — Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell half equations; advantages vs rechargeable cells.

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