THE CECIL ACADEMY

PURE CHEMISTRY – EXPANDED LIST OF TOPICS – GRADE 10 – 12

1. INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY
 What is chemistry?
 Mention the branches of chemistry.
 What is the importance chemistry?
 Mention some challenges of chemical activities in industries.
 What are the safety rules in the laboratory.
2. THE PARTICULATE NATURE OF MATTER
 The Kinetic theory of matter
 What is matter?
 Classify the basic units of matter e.g. atoms, molecules and ions.
 State the kinetic theory of matter.
 Describe the states of matter?
 Define the processes involved in the changes of the states of matter.
 Describe the absorption of heat and release of heat during changes of states of
matter. e.g. what is exothermic and endothermic release and absorption of
energy in reactions.
 Diffusion
 What is diffusion?
 Describe how you would show that diffusion occurs in fluids (liquids and gases).
 What is Brownian motion?
 Describe the factors that affect the rate of diffusion

3. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
 Measuring of quantities
 Explain how different quantities are measured e.g. time, mass etc.
 Identify different measuring apparatus used in chemistry.
 Draw and name measuring instruments and apparatus used in chemistry
 Criteria of purity
 What are the differences between a pure substance and a mixture in terms of
melting and boiling points.
 Explain how to determine the purity of a substance.
 What is the importance of purity of a substance e.g. food, drinks, medicine?
 Separating mixtures
 Distinguish between physical and chemical changes in terms of mass changes,
irreversibility/reversibility, chemical substance formed and energy involved.
 Describe different methods of separating mixtures such as decantation, filtration,
crystallization, simple and fractional distillation, magnetism, chromatography,
evaporation, sublimation, floatation, use of separating funnel and centrifugation
 Describe simple paper chromatograms. E.g. Rf_values and distances covered by
components (restricted to paper chromatography)

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 4. ATOMS, ELEMENTS, COMPOUNDS AND MOLECULES
 Atomic structure and the periodic table
 Define an atom and and draw its structure.
 Describe the relative charges and approximate relative masses of protons,
neutrons and electrons e.g. charges -1,0,+1, masses 1,1,1/1840.
 What is proton (atomic) number, mass (nucleon) number and nuclide notation?
 What is an element?
 Identify elements using their chemical symbols especially elements with atomic
number 1 up to 20.
 Describe the basis of the Periodic Table e.g. groups are determined by valence
electrons, while periods are determined by number of shells.
 What are isotopes?
 Calculate relative atomic mass of an element given the percentage abundances
of isotopes and from mass spectrum.
 Describe the use of radioactive isotopes
 How do electrons build up in shells? Talk about electronic configuration NOT
SPDF configuration.
 Bonding
 What is a compound?
 Describe the formation of ions (radicals) such as cations by electron loss, anions
by electron gain.
 Describe the formation of ionic (electrovalent) bonds.
 How are covalent bonds formed?
 Describe the electronic arrangement in simple multiple covalent molecules such
as double bonds in O2, C2H4 and CO2, Triple bond in N2 and C2H2
 Describe the uses of ionic and covalent compounds as refractory materials for
ionic compounds (CaO) and polar and nonpolar solvents for covalent compounds.
 What is a molecule?
 What is the difference between valency and valence electrons?
 Describe how to deduce valency of an element from the formula of a compound,
ionic charge, valence electrons?
 Formulate chemical formulae of compounds: use valency and chemical symbols
of elements, charges on ions, models, relative numbers of atoms present, draw
diagrams to represent compounds.
 Identify the differences in properties of ionic and covalent compounds. E.g.
volatility, electrical conductivity, density, melting point, boiling point and basic
units.
 What is metallic bonding?
 Explain how metals conduct electricity and heat. Refer to free moving electrons
(or delocalized electrons).
 Macromolecules
 What are macromolecules?
 Describe the giant covalent structures of graphite and diamond and describe
their uses in relation to their structures.
 Describe the macromolecular structure of silicon (IV) oxide(silicon dioxide).
 Identify the similarities in properties between diamond and silicon dioxide.

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  Chemical formulae and equations
 Describe how to construct word equations. Showing reactants and products
 Formulate and balance chemical equations.
 Construct net ionic equations from balanced chemical equations.

5. ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

 Characteristic properties of acids and bases
 What are acids and bases (alkalis)? Refer to ions they contain or produce
 Describe the meaning of weak, strong, dilute and concentrated acids and alkalis.
 What is the PH scale.
 Describe neutrality, acidity and alkalinity in terms of PH value.
 Determine the PH value of a solution using universal indicator: use different
colours at different PH values, and using PH meter: precise values
 What are some of the characteristic properties of acids? Refer to reactions with
metals, bases, carbonates/bicarbonates and their effects on indicators.
 What are the characteristic properties of bases? Refer to reactions with acids and
ammonium salts, effect on indicators.
 Explain the importance of acid- base reactions. Refer to controlling the acidity in
the soil, treatment of indigestion, brushing teeth with toothpaste.
 State the uses of acids and bases.
 Salts
 What is a salt?
 Classify salts. e.g.. according to their nature and solubility in water
 Explain how to prepare an insoluble salt using precipitation method and
separated by filtration. e.g.. Barium sulphate, Silver chloride
 Explain how to prepare soluble salts by reaction of acids with bases, suitable
metals and carbonates/ bicarbonates. Separated by crystallization and filtration.
E.g.., Zinc sulphate, copper (II) sulphate
 Explain how to prepare ammonium, potassium and sodium salts using titration
method (use of indicator for ease detection of end point).
 What are hydrated salts and differentiate them from anhydrous salts
 Describe the behaviors of salts with reference to the atmosphere. Refer to
hygroscopic, efflorescent, deliquescent.
 Types of oxides
 What is an oxide?
 Describe the various types of oxides. Refer to acidic, basic neutral and amphoteric
oxides.
 Identification of ions and gases (Qualitative analysis)
 Explain how to identity aqueous cations and anion cations: refer to Aluminium.
Ammonium, calcium etc.: refer also to Anions being carbonate, chloride, iodide
etc. using various reagents.
 Explain how to identify gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine,
hydrogen, oxygen and Sulphur dioxide.

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 6. STOICHIOMETRY AND THE MOLE CONCEPT
 Relative masses
 Define Relative Atomic Mass and relative molecular mass.
 Calculate the relative formula mass of a compound
 The mole
 Define the mole of a substance?
 Calculate the relative formula mass of a compound
 Determine the physical masses (m) of any substance using the molar mass (Mr)
and the physical volume (v) of any gas at r.t.p and vice versa. Apply n = m/Mr and
n =v/Vm where n = number of moles.
 Describe the relationship of Avogadro’s law to reacting moles and volumes of
gases at r.t.p and s.t.p.
 Determine the concentration of a solution and apply dilution law which is
M1V1 = M2V2.
 Perform calculations involving stoichiometric reacting moles and volumes of
gases and solutions.
 Define and calculate the percentage yield in a reaction and the percentage purity
of a substance
 What is a limiting reagent in a given reaction? Perform calculations as well.
 Perform calculations involving different types of acid–base titration reactions.
 Empirical and Molecular formulae
 Calculate the percentage composition of elements in a compound.
 Determine the empirical formulae of a compound given the molecular formula
 Determine the empirical and molecular formulae using percentage composition
or masses.

7. CHEMICAL REACTIONS
 Rates of chemical reactions.
 What is meant by the ‘rate of a chemical reaction’?
 What are the factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions?
 Interpret data on the rate of chemical reactions. E.g. use graphs for rate of
chemical reactions.
 What are the methods used to control the rate of chemical reactions?
 Explain the effect of a catalyst on the activation energy.
 Chemical equilibrium.
 What is chemical equilibrium?
 Describe the effect on the position of equilibrium of a reaction upon changing
conditions such as temperature, pressure, concentration. Apply Le Chartelier’s
principle.
 Redox reactions.
 Describe what oxidation and reduction is in terms of electron transfer,
hydrogen/oxygen transfer, changes in oxidation state.
 Identify oxidizing and reducing agents in a reaction.
 Explain how to determine the oxidation number of an element with variable
valency in a compound or ion.

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  Deduce a redox reaction using oxidation numbers. Refer to changes in oxidation
numbers of reactants and products.
 Describe what non- redox reaction is
 Explain how to Identify the characteristics of oxidizing and reducing agents. Refer
to use of potassium iodide and acidified potassium dichromate.
 Energetics of reactions
 Describe what endothermic and exothermic reactions are.
 Determine a reaction which is endothermic or exothermic. Refer to changes in
enthalpy, energy level diagrams. Calculating ΔH using bond energies.
 Describe endothermic and exothermic reactions in relation to bonds. e.g..
breaking or forming bonds.
 Identify activation energy for a catalyzed and uncatalyzed reaction on an energy
level diagram.
 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of energy sources (fuels).
 What are the effects of the use of fuels on the environment. e.g.. explain pollution
and the greenhouse effect: global warming.
 Explain why silver halide is used in photography.
 Explain respiration and photosynthesis in terms of energy changes.
 Explain why radioactive isotopes are used as a source of nuclear energy in
relation to energy changes.
 Explain why batteries are a convenient source of electrical energy.

8. THE PERIODIC TABLE

 Groups and Periods
 What is a periodic table?
 What are groups and periods on the periodic table?
 Explain how to use the Periodic Table to classify elements. e.g.. as metals and
non-metals.
 Groups and Periodic trends
 Explain the trends in various groups given information about the element. e.g..
reactivity of group I, II and VII elements.
 Mention the physical and chemical properties of elements in Group I, II, VII and
VIII.
 State the importance of halogens.
 What are the harmful effects of halides?
 Explain how and why noble gases are used in providing an inert atmosphere. Refer
to their non reactivity.
 Transition metals
 What are transition metals?
 Describe general properties of transition metals. Refer to valency, density, melting
points, colour.
 What are some of the uses of transition metals?

9. CHEMISTRY AND ELECTRICITY

 Differentiate between conductors and non-conductors of electricity.
 Electrolysis

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  State differences between electrolyte and non-electrolyte compounds giving
examples of each.
 What is electrolysis?
 What are the products at the electrodes during electrolysis of binary ionic
compounds?
 Describe the products at the electrodes during the electrolysis of aqueous ionic
solutions.
 Describe the industrial applications of electrolysis e.g. extraction of Aluminium.
 Calculate the quantity of products in electrolysis. e.g. use Faraday’s laws.
 The Simple chemical cells
 What is a simple cell?
 Describe the structure and operation of a simple cell.
 Compare electrolytic cells and simple cells. Refer to oxidation and reduction at
cathode and anode.

10. METALS
 General properties of a metal
 What is a metal?
 Describe with diagrams, the physical and chemical properties of pure metals.
 Reactivity and electro-chemical series.
 What is meant by the ‘reactivity series’?
 Describe the ‘apparent non-reactivity’ of Aluminium. Refer to adhesive oxide
 Describe the order of reactivity e.g. reduction of metal oxides by other metals
 What effect does heat have on hydroxides, carbonates, nitrates of metals and
ammonium compounds?
 Describe the extraction of copper, iron and zinc from their ores. Refer to chemical
reducing agents.
 What are some of the uses of copper, iron, zinc Aluminium?
 State the harmful effects of some metals.
 Alloys
 What is an alloy?
 By using diagrams, describe how alloys are represented.
 Explain the advantages of using alloys over pure metals.
 What are some of the common uses of alloys?
 Corrosion
 What is corrosion of metals?
 How is corrosion related to the reactivity of metals?
 State some negative effects of corrosion.
 Describe different methods of preventing corrosion.

11. NON-METALS
 General properties of non-metals
 What are non-metals?
 Describe the physical and chemical properties of non-metals. E.g. density, melting
points, boiling points, oxidizing agents etc.
 Hydrogen
 What is Hydrogen?

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  What are the physical and chemical properties of Hydrogen?
 Describe the laboratory preparation, collection and test for hydrogen.
 Explain how Hydrogen is manufactured in industries.
 What are the uses of hydrogen?
 Oxygen
 What is Oxygen?
 What are the physical and chemical properties of Oxygen?
 Describe the laboratory preparation, collection and test for Oxygen.
 Explain how Oxygen is manufactured in industries.
 What are the uses of Oxygen in industries and in natural processes?
 Explain the importance of the ozone layer and dangers of its depletion.
 Water
 Describe the chemical test for water. Refer to anhydrous copper(II) Sulphate.
 Describe the importance of water at industrial and household level.
 Nitrogen
 What are the physical and chemical properties of Nitrogen?
 Explain the importance of Nitrogen.
 How is nitrogen produced in industries? Explain the Harber process.
 Describe the physical and chemical properties of ammonia.
 Describe the laboratory preparation, collection and test for ammonia.
 Explain how ammonia is manufactured in industries.
 Explain the dissociation of ammonium salts e.g. ammonium chloride, nitrate
 How is nitric acid manufactured? Refer to the Ostwald process.
 Explain the importance of nitrogenous fertilizers
 What are the effects of nitrogenous fertilizers on the environment?
 Chlorine
 What are the physical and chemical properties of chlorine gas?
 What are the uses of chlorine?
 Explain the laboratory preparation, collection and test for chlorine gas.
 Explain how chlorine is produced in industries. Refer to electrolysis of brine.
 What are the physical and chemical properties of hydrogen chloride gas?
 Describe the method for preparation, collection and test for hydrogen chloride gas.
 Describe the method for preparation of hydrochloric acid.
 Describe the reactions of dilute hydrochloric acid. E.g. with alkalis, metals,
carbonates, ammonia and silver nitrate.
 Sulphur
 What are the physical and chemical properties of Sulphur?
 Describe how Sulphur dioxide is formed.
 What are the physical and chemical properties of Sulphur dioxide?
 Describe the laboratory preparation, collection and test for Sulphur dioxide
 What are some of the uses of Sulphur dioxide? Explain each use.
 Explain how sulphuric acid is manufactured in industries. Refer to contact
process.
 What are the uses of Sulphuric acid?
 Carbon and carbonates
 What are some of the physical and chemical properties of carbon?
 What are allotropes?

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  Describe the physical properties of allotropes of carbon.
 How is carbon monoxide formed?
 What are some of the properties of carbon monoxide?
 How is carbon dioxide formed?
 Describe the physical and chemical properties of carbon dioxide.
 Describe the laboratory preparation, collection and the test for carbon dioxide.
 What are some of the uses of carbon dioxide?
 What is lime and limestone?
 How is lime manufactured from limestone?
 What are some of the uses of lime and slaked lime?
 What are some of the uses of limestone?
 Describe the greenhouse effect?
 Silicon
 What is silicon?
 What are some of the properties of silicon? Refer to its metalloid property.
 Describe the uses of silicon.
 What are silicones?
 Compare the fire resistance of silicone plastics to carbon-based macromolecules.
 Describe the uses of silicon dioxide (sand).

12. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

 Saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons
 What is an organic compound?
 What is a hydrocarbon?
 Write and name the structures of the aliphatic alkanes up to five carbon atoms: use
catenation, the general formula CnH2n+2. Note: all should end with ane.
 What are isomers?
 Write the structures of isomers and their names: Use the idea of branched (side
chains) and unbranched butane and pentane and nomenclature follows IUPAC
system.
 Describe fractional distillation of petroleum (crude oil)
 What are the uses of the fractions of crude oil?
 What are alkanes?
 Describe the chemical properties of alkanes, e.g. combustion, cracking, substitution,
steam forming.
 Account for the apparent non reactivity of alkanes as compared to other organic
compounds. Refer to saturation etc.
 Explain unsaturation in alkenes.
 Write and name the structures of the alkenes up to 5 carbon atoms. Use the general
formula CnH2n. Structures must contain one carbon to carbon double bond. All should
end with- ene.
 Write the structures of isomers of alkenes. use the unbranched structures of butene
and pentene.
 What are the chemical properties of alkenes? Refer to combustion and addition
reactions.
 Explain the differences and similarities between saturated and unsaturated
Hydrocarbons. use the structures and bromine solution.

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  What are the chemical tests for unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes). E.g.. on colour
of bromine solution.
 Describe the uses of alkenes. Explain formation of polymers.
 Alcohols (or Alkanols)
 What is an alcohol?
 Describe the chemical composition of an alcohol.
 Describe and name structures of primary alcohols up to five carbon atoms. Use the
concept of organic compound with a hydroxyl group with general formula C nH2n+1OH.
 Explain isomerism in alcohols.
 Explain how alcohols are formed. Refer to hydration of alkenes, hydrolysis of esters,
and fermentation.
 Describe the chemical properties of alcohols. e.g.., combustion, esterification, etc.
 Explain the uses of alcohols. e.g.., antiseptic, etc.
 Carboxylic acids (or Alkanoic acids)
 Write and name structures of carboxylic acids up to five carbon atoms. Use the
concept of organic compounds with a carboxylic group (COOH), general formula
CnH2n+1COOH, all should end with- oic acid.
 How are carboxylic acids formed? Explain oxidation of alcohols and hydrolysis.
 Explain the chemical properties of carboxylic acids. e.g.. reaction with bases,
 What are the uses of carboxylic acids? e.g.., formation of esters, etc.
 Esters (Alkanoates)
 Write and name the structures of esters up to five carbon atoms. Use the concept of
Organic compounds with an ester link and all should end with –oate.
 Describe the chemical properties of esters e.g.. combustion and hydrolysis
 What are the uses of esters? and relate the uses to properties.
 Homologous series
 What is the “homologous series”? give examples.
 Describe the general characteristics of homologues (members). e.g.. same general
formula, chemical properties etc.
 Macromolecules (Polymers)
 What are macromolecules (or polymers)?
 What are synthetic macromolecules?
 Explain how polyalkenes are formed. Refer to additional polymerization.
 Classify plastics. refer to thermoplastics and thermosets.
 Explain how nylon and Terylene are formed. Refer to condensation polymerization.
 Differentiate between the structure of Nylon and Terylene.
 What are the typical uses of plastics and synthetic fibres?
 Describe the biodegradability of synthetic fibres.
 What are natural macromolecules? refer to carbohydrates, proteins etc.
 Describe composition of carbohydrates. e.g.. they contain carbon etc.
 What are the linkages in starch, proteins and fats? e.g.. in starch: glycosidic etc.
 What are the linkages in synthetic and natural polymers? Talk about differences and
similarities between nylon and proteins, terylene and fats, etc.
 What is hydrolysis of fats (saponification)?
 What are the products of the hydrolysis of starch and proteins?
 Explain how to identify the products of the hydrolysis of starch and proteins. e.g use
of chromatography to identify amino acids from proteins, and simple sugars from
starch.
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