AQA Certificate in Chemistry

Comparison of content with GCSE Chemistry

This document indicates the origin of each knowledge statement in the AQA Certificate in Chemistry.
Many of the knowledge statements are identical to those in GCSE Chemistry, including any additional guidance.
Some of the statements have been reworded into the Certificate style, although the knowledge required is unchanged.
Some statements have been amended (deletions or additions made) for the Certificate; amendments have been summarised in
the Further information column.
This document is a complete revision of the previously published version.
This document does not replace the specification, which remains the definitive source of information.

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

Unit 2

1.1 Solids, liquids and

gases

Further information
Unit 3
All new

1.1a
1.1b
1.2 Atoms

C1.1.1 Atoms
1.2a
1.2b
1.2c
1.2d
1.2e
1.2f
1.2g
1.2h
1.2i
1.2j
1.2k
1.2l

C2.3.1 Atomic
structure

C1.1.1a
C1.1.1b
C1.1.1c
C1.1.1d
C1.1.1e
C1.1.1g
C1.1.1f
C2.3.1d
C2.3.1a
C1.1.1h
C2.3.1b
C2.3.1e

Additional Guidance new

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
1.3 Chemical
reactions and related
calculations
1.3a
1.3b
1.3c
1.3d
1.3e
1.3f
1.3g
1.3g
1.3i
1.3j
1.3k
1.3l
2.1 Bonding

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1
1.1.3 Chemical
reactions

Unit 2
2.3.1 Atomic
structure;
2.3.3 Quantitative
chemistry

Unit 3
Some new content

C1.1.3a
C2.3.1f
C2.3.1g
C2.3.3a
C2.3.3b

Second sentence expanded

Additional Guidance new

C1.1.3b
New
Additional Guidance deleted

C1.1.3c
C2.3.3c
C2.3.3d
C2.3.3e
C2.2.3f
C2.1.1 Structure and
bonding

2.1a
2.1b
2.1c
2.1d
2.1e
2.1f
2.1g
2.1h

Further information

C2.1.1a
C2.1.1b
C2.2.1c
C2.1.1d
C2.1.1e
C2.1.1f
C2.1.1g

Small amount of new content

Last sentence new. Diagram from C2.1 intro

Additional Guidance deleted

Statement new. Diagram from C2.1 intro

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
2.2 Structure and how
it influences the
properties and uses
of substances

2.2a
2.2b
2.2c
2.2d
2.2e
2.2f
2.2g
2.2h
2.2i
2.2j
2.2k
3.1 Air and oxygen

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C2.2.1 Molecules;
C2.2.2 Ionic
compounds;
C2.2.3 Covalent
structures;
C2.2.6 Nanoscience
C2.2.2a
C2.2.2b
C2.2.1a
C2.2.1b
C2.2.1c
C2.2.3a
C2.2.3b
C2.2.3c
C2.2.3d
C2.2.3e
C2.2.6a
All new

3.1a
3.1b
3.1c
3.1d
3.1e
3.1f

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

3.2 Water

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C3.2.2 Purifying water

Some new content

New

3.2a
3.2b
3.3c
3.3d

C3.2.2a part
C3.2.2b
C3.2.2c

3.3 Rusting

All new
3.3a
3.3b

4.1 The periodic table

4.1a
4.1b
4.1c
4.2 Trends within the
periodic table
4.2a
4.2b
4.2c
4.2d
4.2e
4.2f
4.2g
4.2h

C1.1.2 The periodic

table

Some new content

New
Additional Guidance deleted

C1.1.2a
C1.1.2b
C3.1.3 Trends within
the periodic table
C3.1.3a
C3.1.3b
C3.1.3c
C3.1.3d
C3.1.3e
C3.1.3f
C3.1.3g
C3.1.3h

Second bullet point removed

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
5.1 Acids, bases and
salts
5.1a
5.1b
5.1c
5.1d
5.1e
5.1f
5.1g
5.1h
5.1i

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1
C1.2.1 Calcium
carbonate

Unit 2
C2.6.2 Acids and
bases

Further information
Unit 3

C3.4.1 Analysing
substances

Small amount of new content

C2.6.2a
New
C2.6.2b
C2.6.2c
C1.2.1e
C2.6.2d
C2.6.2e
C3.4.1g
C3.4.1e

5.2 Making salts

C2.6.1 Making salts

C2.6.1b
C2.6.1c
C2.6.1d

5.2a
5.2b
5.2c
5.3 Metal carbonates

C1.2.1 Calcium
carbonate

5.3a
5.3b

C1.2.1c
C1.2.1f

5.3c

C1.2.1a

Some new content

Sodium replaced by lithium
Second sentence and Additional Guidance
deleted
Further uses of limestone given

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

6.1 The reactivity

series

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3
All new

6.1a
6.1b
6.1c
6.2 Extracting metals
6.2a
6.2b
6.2c
6.2d
6.2e
6.2f
6.2g
6.2h

C1.3.1 Extracting
metals
C1.3.1c
C1.3.1d
C1.3.1e
C1.3.1f
C1.3.1g
C1.3.1h part
C1.3.1h part
C1.3.1j

Some new content

Additional Guidance changed

Additional Guidance changed

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
6.3 Structure and
bonding in metals
and alloys
6.3a
6.3b
6.3c
6.3d
6.3e
6.3f
6.3g
6.4 Properties and
uses of metals
6.4a
6.4b
6.4c
6.4d

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1
C1.3.2 Alloys

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C2.1.1 Structure and

bonding;
C2.2.4 Metals
C2.1.1h
C2.1.1i
C2.2.4a
C2.2.4b
C2.2.4c

Diagram from intro to C2.1

C1.3.2c
C2.2.4d
C1.3.2 Alloys;
C1.3.3 Properties and
uses of metals
C1.3.1a
C1.3.2a
C1.3.2b
C1.3.3b

Slight rewording

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

7 Rates of reaction

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C2.4.1 Rates of
reaction
C2.4.1a
C2.4.1b
C2.4.1c
C2.4.1d
C2.4.1e
C2.4.1f
C2.4.1g
C2.4.1h

7a
7b
7c
7d
7e
7f
7g
7h
8.1 Crude oil

Additional Guidance from C2.4 intro

C1.4.1 Crude oil;

C1.4.2 Hydrocarbons
8.1a
8.1b
8.1c

C1.4.1a
C1.4.1c part
C1.4.2b

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
8.2 Hydrocarbons

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C1.4.1 Crude oil;

C1.4.2 Hydrocarbons
8.2a
8.2b
8.2c

8.3 Fuels

C1.4.1c part
C1.4.2a
C1.4.2c
C1.4.3 Hydrocarbon
fuels

8.3a
8.3b
8.3c
8.3d
8.3e
8.3f
9.1 Obtaining useful
substances from
crude oil

C3.3.1 Energy from

reactions

C1.4.3a
C1.4.3b
C1.4.3c
C1.4.3d
C1.4.3e
C3.3.1i

Small amount of new content

Additional Guidance from C1.4 intro

Additional Guidance new

C1.5.1 Obtaining
useful substances
from crude oil;
C1.5.3 Ethanol

9.1a
9.1b

C1.5.1a
C1.5.1b

9.1c
9.1d
9.1e
9.1f

C1.5.1c
C1.5.1d
C1.5.1e
C1.5.3a

Additional Guidance moved to 9.1c and new

Additional Guidance given
Additional Guidance inserted from C1.5.1b

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

v1.1

Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
9.2 Polymers

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1
C1.5.2 Polymers

9.2a
9.2b
9.2c
9.2d
9.2e
9.2f

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C2.2.5 Polymers

C1.5.2a

Last sentence in Additional Guidance new

C2.2.5a
C2.2.5b

C1.5.2b
C1.5.2c
C1.5.2d

10.1 Alcohols

C3.6.1 Alcohols
C3.6.1a
C3.6.1b
C3.6.1c

10.1a
10.1b
10.1c
10.2 Carboxylic acids

C3.6.2 Carboxylic
acids
C3.6.2a
C3.6.2b

10.2a
10.2b
10.3 Esters

C3.6.3 Esters
C3.6.3a part
C3.6.3a part

10.3a
10.3b
11.1 Exothermic and
endothermic
reactions
11.1a
11.1b
11.1c
11.1d

Representations from C3.6 intro

Additional Guidance deleted
Small amount of new content
Representations from C3.6 intro
Additional Guidance new
Some new content
Representations of esters new

C2.5.1 Energy transfer

in chemical reactions
C2.5.1a
C2.5.1b
C2.5.1c
C2.5.1d

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

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Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry
11.2 Calculating and
explaining energy
changes
11.2a
11.2b
11.2c
11.2d
11.2e
11.2f
11.2g
11.2h
12 The production of
ammonia
12a
12b
12c
12d
12e
12f
12g
12h

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C3.3.1 Energy from

reactions
C3.3.1a
C3.3.1b
C3.3.1c
C3.3.1d
C3.3.1e
C3.3.1f
C3.3.1g
C3.3.1h
C3.5.1 Making
ammonia
C3.5.1a
C3.5.1b
C3.5.1c
C3.5.1d
C3.5.1e
C3.5.1f
C3.5.1g
C3.5.1h

Small amount of new content

Additional Guidance new

Small amount of new material

Second bullet point new

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

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Section in AQA
Certificate
in Chemistry

Section in GCSE Chemistry

Unit 1

13 Electrolysis

Unit 2

Further information
Unit 3

C2.7.1 Electrolysis

Some new content

C2.7.1a
C2.7.1b
C2.7.1c

13a
13b
13c
13d
13e
13f
13g
13h
13i
13j

New
C2.7.1e
C2.7.1g
C2.7.1f
C2.7.1d
C2.7.1h
C2.7.1i

14.1 Analysing
substances

Second bullet point new

Last sentence in Additional Guidance new
C3.4.1 Analysing
substances
C3.4.1a
C3.4.1b
C3.4.1c
C3.4.1d
C3.4.1e
C3.4.1f

14.1a
14.1b
14.1c
14.1d
14.1e
14.1f
14.2 Analysis of
mixtures

C1.4.1 Crude oil

14.2a
14.2b
14.2c
14.2d

C2.3.2 Analysing
substances

Some new content

C1.4.1b
New
C2.3.2a
C2.3.2c

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

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AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

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