Recommended teaching hours
Core 95 hours
Topic 1: Stoichiometric relationships 13.5
1.1 Introduction to the particulate nature of matter and chemical change
1.2 The mole concept
1.3 Reacting masses and volumes
Topic 2: Atomic structure 6
2.1 The nuclear atom
2.2 Electron configuration
Topic 3: Periodicity 6
3.1 Periodic table
3.2 Periodic trends
Topic 4: Chemical bonding and structure 13.5
4.1 Ionic bonding and structure
4.2 Covalent bonding
4.3 Covalent structures
4.4 Intermolecular forces
4.5 Metallic bonding
Topic 5: Energetics/thermochemistry 9
5.1 Measuring energy changes
5.2 Hess’s Law
5.3 Bond enthalpies
Topic 6: Chemical kinetics 7
6.1 Collision theory and rates of reaction
Topic 7: Equilibrium 4.5
7.1 Equilibrium
Topic 8: Acids and bases 6.5
8.1 Theories of acids and bases
8.2 Properties of acids and bases
8.3 The pH scale
8.4 Strong and weak acids and bases
8.5 Acid deposition
Topic 9: Redox processes 8
9.1 Oxidation and reduction
9.2 Electrochemical cells
Topic 10: Organic chemistry 11
10.1 Fundamentals of organic chemistry
10.2 Functional group chemistry
Topic 11: Measurement and data processing 10
11.1 Uncertainties and errors in measurement and results
11.2 Graphical techniques
11.3 Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds
Additional higher level (AHL) 60 hours
Topic 12: Atomic structure 2
12.1 Electrons in atoms
Topic 13: The periodic table—the transition metals 4
13.1 First-row d-block elements
13.2 Coloured complexes
Topic 14: Chemical bonding and structure 7
14.1 Covalent bonding and electron domain and molecular geometries
14.2 Hybridization
Topic 15: Energetics/thermochemistry 7
15.1 Energy cycles
15.2 Entropy and spontaneity
Topic 16: Chemical kinetics 6
16.1 Rate expression and reaction mechanism
16.2 Activation energy
Topic 17: Equilibrium 4
17.1 The equilibrium law
Topic 18: Acids and bases 10
18.1 Lewis acids and bases
18.2 Calculations involving acids and bases
18.3 pH curves
Topic 19: Redox processes 6
19.1 Electrochemical cells
Topic 20: Organic chemistry 12
20.1 Types of organic reactions
20.2 Synthetic routes
20.3 Stereoisomerism
Topic 21: Measurement and analysis 2
21.1 Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds
Options 15 hours (SL)/25 hours (HL)
A: Materials
Core topics
A.1 Materials science introduction
A.2 Metals and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy
A.3 Catalysts
A.4 Liquid crystals
A.5 Polymers
A.6 Nanotechnology
A.7 Environmental impact—plastics
Additional higher level topics
A.8 Superconducting metals and X-ray crystallography (HL only)
A.9 Condensation polymers (HL only)
A.10 Environmental impact—heavy metals (HL only)
B: Biochemistry
Core topics
B.1 Introduction to biochemistry
B.2 Proteins and enzymes
B.3 Lipids
B.4 Carbohydrates
B.5 Vitamins
B.6 Biochemistry and the environment
Additional higher level topics
B.7 Proteins and enzymes (HL only)
B.8 Nucleic acids (HL only)
B.9 Biological pigments (HL only)
B.10 Stereochemistry in biomolecules (HL only)
C: Energy
Core topics
C.1 Energy sources
C.2 Fossil fuels
C.3 Nuclear fusion and fission
C.4 Solar energy
C.5 Environmental impact—global warming
Additional higher level topics
C.6 Electrochemistry, rechargeable batteries and fuel cells (HL only)
C.7 Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission (HL only)
C.8 Photovoltaic and dye-sensitized solar cells (HL only)
D: Medicinal chemistry
Core topics
D.1 Pharmaceutical products and drug action
D.2 Aspirin and penicillin
D.3 Opiates
D.4 pH regulation of the stomach
D.5 Anti-viral medications
D.6 Environmental impact of some medications
Additional higher level topics (AHL)
D.7 Taxol—a chiral auxiliary case study (HL only)
D.8 Nuclear medicine (HL only)
D.9 Drug detection and analysis (HL only)
