Specific GCSE physics topics

A brief overview of the range and content of biology in Extension Science (see GCSE specification for single-page summaries of the chemistry content in each specification overall).

	AQA Extension Science	Edexcel360 Extension Science	OCR Twenty First Century Extension Science	OCR Gateway Extension Science	WJEC Extension Science
	Chemistry 3	3: Chemical detection 4: Chemistry working for us	C7: Further chemistry	C5: How much? C6: Chemistry out there	Chemistry 3
Atomic structure, properties and bonding	Development of periodic table Group 1 and Group 7 Transition metals	Transition metals Alkali metals
Changing materials and chemical reactions	Strong acids and bases Solubility Food, fuel and energy changes (quantitative)	Electrolysis	Energy changes in reactions Activation energy Reversible reactions and equilibria Strong and weak acids	Oxidation and reduction Water of crystallisation Electrolysis Strong and weak acids Neutralisation Reversible reactions and equilibria Rates of reaction	Fuels Strong and weak acids (vs concentration) Neutralisation Thermal decomposition of carbonates
Obtaining and using materials	Water	Water Organic acids, alcohols and esters Copper Sodium carbonate and hydroxide Sulphuric acid Soap and detergent	Alcohols - production of ethanol Carboxylic acids and esters Fats and oils (Un)saturated bonds Green chemistry	Sulphuric acid Fuel cells Rust protection Alcohols - production of ethanol Salt Ozone layer and CFCs Water chemistry Natural fats and oils Analgesics	Alkanes, alkenes Ethanol production and uses Ethanoic acid Sulphuric acid: Contact process, reactions Limestone, quicklime, slaked lime and cement
Chemical detection	Tests for ions, tests for organic compounds Gas-liquid chromatography, spectroscopy: atomic absorption, infrared, UV, NMR. Mass spectrometry Titrations	Tests for ions Titrations	Analytical procedures Chromatography (paper, thin layer, gas) Titrations Test for ions	Quantitative analysis Titrations	Tests for alkenes, carboxylic acids Tests for ions, tests for gases Chromatography, distillation, filtration Titrations
Chemical calculations		Moles, masses and volumes in reactions	Moles, masses and volumes in reactions	Moles, masses and volumes in reactions Empirical formulae	Moles, masses and volumes in reactions

The guide covers the topics that come up most often in the GCSE Chemistry extension units and those found to be most challenging or least familiar to teachers. These are:

food, fuels and energy changes in reactions
fuel cells
reversible changes and equilibria
strong and weak acids and bases
sulphuric acid
water purity
alkanes and alcohols
carboxylic acids, esters, fats and oils
green chemistry
chemical analysis: testing for ions and gases
chemical detection: instrumental methods
moles, masses and volumes.

You will find a list of resources specific to each topic in this section, and details of how to obtain them, in the resources section.