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Chemistry Syllabus
Chemistry Syllabus
Chemistry Syllabus
The contents of the ‘Topic’, ‘Core’ and ‘Supplement’ columns of this table is taken from the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry syllabus for
examination from 2016 to 2018. Teachers and learners should always ensure they are referring to the syllabus for the year they are
entering for examination.
This table tells you which section of the book covers each syllabus topic. You can use this table as a revision guide by ticking off the
syllabus points as you study them.
4.2 The mole concept ◆ Define the mole and the 6.2 {
Avogadro constant
◆ Use the molar gas volume, taken 6.4 {
as 24 dm3 at room temperature
and pressure
◆ Calculate stoichiometric reacting 6.3; 6.4; 6.5 {
masses and volumes of gases and
solutions, solution concentrations
expressed in g/dm3 and mol/dm3.
(Calculations involving the idea
of limiting reactants may be set.
Questions on the gas laws and the
conversion of gaseous volumes
to different temperatures and
pressures will not be set.)
◆ Calculate empirical formulae 6.2 {
and molecular formulae
◆ Calculate % yield and % purity 6.3 {
5. Electricity ◆ Define electrolysis as the 4.5 { ◆ Relate the products of 4.5; 4.6 {
and chemistry breakdown of an ionic electrolysis to the electrolyte and
compound, molten or in electrodes used, exemplified by
aqueous solution, by the passage the specific examples in the Core
of electricity together with aqueous copper(ii)
sulfate using carbon electrodes
◆ Describe the electrode products
and using copper electrodes (as
and the observations made
used in the refining of copper)
during the electrolysis of:
◆ Describe and explain 4.5 {
– molten lead(ii) bromide 4.5 {
electrolysis in terms of the ions
– concentrated hydrochloric acid present and reactions at the
electrodes in the examples given
– concentrated aqueous 4.5 {
sodium chloride
– dilute sulfuric acid
– between inert electrodes
(platinum or carbon) 4.5 {
◆ State the general principle that 4.5 {
metals or hydrogen are formed at
the negative electrode (cathode),
and that non-metals (other than
hydrogen) are formed at the
positive electrode (anode)
◆ Predict the products of the 4.5 { ◆ Predict the products of 4.6 {
electrolysis of a specified binary electrolysis of a specified halide
compound in the molten state in dilute or concentrated
aqueous solution
◆ Describe the electroplating of 4.5 {
metals
◆ Outline the uses of 4.5 { ◆ Construct ionic half-equations 4.5 {
electroplating for reactions at the cathode
◆ Describe the reasons for the 4.5 { ◆ Describe the transfer of charge
use of copper and (steel-cored) during electrolysis to include:
aluminium in cables, and why
– the movement of electrons in 4.5 {
plastics and ceramics are used
the metallic conductor
as insulators
– the removal or addition of 4.5 {
electrons from the external
circuit at the electrodes
– the movement of ions in the 4.5 {
electrolyte
◆ Describe the production of 4.5 {
electrical energy from simple
cells, i.e. two electrodes in an
electrolyte. (This should be
linked with the reactivity series
in Section 10.2 and redox in
Section 7.3)
7.4 Redox
◆ Define oxidation and reduction 4.3 { ◆ Define redox in terms of 4.4 {
in terms of oxygen loss/ electron transfer
gain. (Oxidation state limited
◆ Identify redox reactions by 4.4 {
to its use to name ions, e.g.
changes in oxidation state and
iron(ii), iron(iii), copper(ii),
by the colour changes involved
manganate(vii)
when using acidified potassium
manganate(vii), and potassium
iodide. (Recall of equations
involving KMnO4 is not required.)
11.2 Air
◆ State the composition of clean 1.2 { ◆ Describe the separation of 1.2 {
air as being approximately 78% oxygen and nitrogen from liquid
nitrogen, 21% oxygen and the air by fractional distillation
remainder as being a mixture of
noble gases, water vapour and
carbon dioxide
◆ Name the common pollutants 1.2 {
in the air as being carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide,
oxides of nitrogen and lead
compounds
◆ State the source of each of these ◆ Describe and explain the 1.2 {
pollutants: presence of oxides of nitrogen
in car exhausts and their
– carbon monoxide from the 1.2 {
catalytic removal
incomplete combustion of
carbon-containing substances
– sulfur dioxide from the 1.2 {
combustion of fossil fuels
which contain sulfur
compounds (leading to
‘acid rain’)
– oxides of nitrogen from car 1.2 {
exhausts
– lead compounds from leaded 1.2 {
petrol
12. Sulfur ◆ Name some sources of sulfur 9.4 { ◆ Describe the manufacture of 9.4 {
sulfuric acid by the Contact
◆ Name the use of sulfur in the 9.4 {
process, including essential
manufacture of sulfuric acid
conditions and reactions
◆ State the uses of sulfur dioxide 9.4 {
◆ Describe the properties and 5.6; 9.4 {
as a bleach in the manufacture
uses of dilute and concentrated
of wood pulp for paper and as
sulfuric acid
a food preservative (by killing
bacteria)
14.2 Fuels
◆ Name the fuels coal, natural gas 1.1; 11.1 {
and petroleum
◆ Name methane as the main 11.2 {
constituent of natural gas
◆ Describe petroleum as a 11.1 {
mixture of hydrocarbons and its
separation into useful fractions
by fractional distillation
◆ Name the uses of the fractions as:
– refinery gas for bottled gas for 11.1 {
heating and cooking
– gasoline fraction for fuel 11.1 {
(petrol) in cars
– naphtha fraction for making 11.1 {
chemicals
– kerosene/paraffin fraction for 11.1 {
jet fuel
– diesel oil/gas oil for fuel in 11.1 {
diesel engines
– fuel oil fraction for fuel for ships 11.1 {
and home heating systems
14.4 Alkanes
◆ Describe the properties of 10.2; { ◆ Describe substitution reactions 10.5 {
alkanes (exemplified by 10.5 of alkanes with chlorine
methane) as being generally
unreactive, except in terms of
burning
◆ Describe the bonding in alkanes 10.2 {
14.5 Alkenes
◆ Describe the manufacture of 11.1 { ◆ Describe the properties of 10.6 {
alkenes and of hydrogen by alkenes in terms of addition
cracking reactions with bromine,
hydrogen and steam
◆ Distinguish between saturated 10.2; {
and unsaturated hydrocarbons 10.3
– from molecular structures
– by reaction with aqueous
bromine
◆ Describe the formation of 10.6; {
poly(ethene) as an example 11.3
of addition polymerisation of
monomer units
14.6 Alcohols
◆ Describe the manufacture of 10.7 { ◆ Outline the advantages and 10.7 {
ethanol by fermentation and by disadvantages of these two
the catalytic addition of steam methods of manufacturing
to ethene ethanol
◆ Describe the properties of 10.8 {
ethanol in terms of burning
◆ Name the uses of ethanol as a 10.7; {
solvent and as a fuel 10.8
14.8.1 Polymers
◆ Describe polymers as large 11 { ◆ Understand that different 11 {
molecules built up from small polymers have different units
units (monomers) and/or different linkages
C C N N C C N N C 11.4 {
H H H H
C C O O C C O O 11.4 {
(Details of manufacture
and mechanisms of these
polymerisations are not required.)
N C N C N C 11.4 {
H O