CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
Higher Level Chemistry is a rigorous course that provides a very good grounding for the study of physical or biological sciences at university
The IB Chemistry course is divided into three sections : Core , Additional Higher Level and a scientific investigation . All students taking Chemistry study the core material and complete an individual scientific investigation ; only Higher Level students study the Additional Higher Level content . Throughout the course the emphasis is on understanding rather than rote learning .
The core is made up of six themes covering aspects of Physical , Inorganic and Organic Chemistry . Students study the nature of the atom . This leads on to a study of the trends in physical and chemical properties within the Periodic Table . Students learn about the key factors which influence how and why chemical reactions take place and how changes in conditions can affect the rate and yield of a reaction .
In the sections on acids and bases , and redox reactions , students learn about the differences between strong and weak acids and how the loss and gain of electrons affects chemical systems . Organic Chemistry is introduced through the study of hydrocarbons and extended to look at the relationships between significant functional groups as well as the mechanisms through which organic reactions proceed .
Higher Level is a rigorous course that provides a very good grounding for the study of physical or biological sciences at university , whereas the Standard Level course provides a basic grounding in Chemistry which may be useful to students who wish to concentrate on other sciences at university or who just have a general interest in Chemistry .
Assessment is by means of two written papers taken at the end of the Upper Sixth , and the scientific investigation which students undertake in the Summer term of their Lower Sixth year .
30 THE IB AT SEVENOAKS | GROUP FOUR