Process
AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405
Atomic Structure
Topic overviewFundamental ParticlesMass Number and IsotopesTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Ionisation and AccelerationTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Drift, Detection and Calculating m/zElectron Configuration: Sub-shells and OrbitalsElectron Configuration: Writing Configurations for Atoms and IonsIonisation Energies and Periodic Trends
Amount of Substance
Topic overviewRelative Atomic and Molecular MassThe Mole and the Avogadro ConstantThe Ideal Gas EquationEmpirical and Molecular FormulaBalanced Equations and Reaction CalculationsAtom Economy and Percentage YieldAcid-Base Titrations: Principles, Indicators and ApparatusAcid-Base Titrations: Standard Solutions and Calculations
Bonding
Topic overviewIonic BondingCovalent, Dative Covalent and Metallic BondingCrystal Structures: Giant Ionic Lattices and DiamondCrystal Structures: Graphite and Simple Molecular SolidsShapes of Molecules and Ions: VSEPR and Electron Pair RepulsionShapes of Molecules and Ions: Predicting Shapes and Bond AnglesElectronegativity and Bond PolarityIntermolecular Forces
Energetics and Thermodynamics
Kinetics
Topic overviewCollision Theory and Activation EnergyMaxwell-Boltzmann Distribution and the Effect of TemperatureEffect of Concentration and Pressure, and CatalystsRate Equations: The Rate Equation and Orders of ReactionRate Equations: The Effect of Concentration on RateThe Rate Constant and the Arrhenius EquationDetermining Rate Equations: The Initial Rates MethodDetermining Rate Equations: Continuous MonitoringRate Equations and Reaction Mechanisms
Chemical Equilibria
Redox and Electrochemistry
Topic overviewRedox: Definitions and the Rules for Oxidation StatesRedox: Identifying Oxidation and Reduction in a ReactionHalf-Equations and Combined Redox EquationsStandard Electrode Potentials and the Hydrogen ElectrodeElectrochemical Cells and EMF CalculationsPredicting Redox Reactions from Electrode PotentialsCommercial Cells and Fuel Cells
Acids and Bases
Periodicity and Group Chemistry
Topic overviews, p, d and f Block ClassificationTrends in Period 3Group 2 Trends in Atomic Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting PointReactions of Group 2 with WaterSolubility Trends of Group 2 HydroxidesSolubility Trends of Group 2 SulfatesUses of Group 2 CompoundsTest for Sulfate IonsTrends in Electronegativity and Boiling Point of HalogensHalogens as Oxidising Agents and Displacement ReactionsHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Chloride and BromideHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Iodide, and the EquationsTest for Halide Ions Using Silver NitrateTests for Ammonium, Group 2, Hydroxide and Carbonate IonsReactions of Chlorine with WaterReactions of Chlorine with Cold Dilute NaOH and Water Treatment
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Topic overviewReactions of Na and Mg with WaterPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: The Oxides Formed and Their BondingPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: Structures and Oxidation StatesMelting Points of Period 3 OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: Sodium and Magnesium OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: The Acidic Oxides and the pH TrendPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: The ReactionsPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: Acidic, Basic and Amphoteric
Transition Metals
Topic overviewGeneral Properties of Transition MetalsComplex Ions: Ligands, Coordinate Bonds and DenticityComplex Ions: Why a Species Can Act as a Ligand, and Coordination NumberSubstitution Reactions with Monodentate LigandsSubstitution Reactions with Bidentate and Multidentate LigandsHaemoglobin and the Chelate EffectShapes of Complex Ions and StereoisomerismFormation of Coloured Ions and the d-d TransitionColorimetry and Concentration DeterminationVariable Oxidation States and Vanadium ChemistryTollens' Reagent and Redox TitrationsHeterogeneous CatalysisVanadium(V) Oxide and the Contact ProcessHomogeneous Catalysis and AutocatalysisMetal-Aqua Ions and AcidityMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Reactions with Hydroxide and AmmoniaMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Why They React, and Their EquationsAmphoteric HydroxidesIdentifying Transition Metal Ions by Test-Tube Reactions
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hydrocarbons
Topic overviewAlkanes, Fractional Distillation and CrackingCombustion of Alkanes and PollutantsFree Radical Chlorination of AlkanesAlkenes: Structure, Bonding and Electrophilic AdditionMarkovnikov's Rule and Carbocation StabilityAddition Polymers and Repeating UnitsProperties and Uses of Polyalkenes
Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis
Topic overviewNucleophilic Substitution of HalogenoalkanesEffect of Bond Enthalpy on Reaction RateElimination Reactions and Competing MechanismsCFCs and Ozone DepletionIndustrial Production of AlcoholsBiofuels and Carbon NeutralityClassification and Oxidation of AlcoholsDistinguishing Aldehydes and KetonesElimination of Water from AlcoholsTest-Tube Reactions for Functional GroupsMass Spectrometry and Molecular FormulaInfrared Spectroscopy, Functional Groups and Global Warming
Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Topic overviewOxidation of Aldehydes and Distinguishing TestsReduction of Carbonyls with NaBH4Nucleophilic Addition with KCN and Hydroxynitrile FormationHazards of KCN and Formation of EnantiomersStructure and Acidity of Carboxylic AcidsEsterification and the Uses of EstersVegetable Oils, Fats and the Hydrolysis of EstersSoap and Biodiesel Production from FatsStructure of Acid Anhydrides, Acyl Chlorides and AmidesNucleophilic Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl ChloridesAcid Anhydrides and the Industrial Synthesis of AspirinPurifying organic solids and liquids
Aromatic Chemistry and Amines
Topic overviewBonding and Stability of BenzeneElectrophilic Substitution: NitrationElectrophilic Substitution: Friedel-Crafts AcylationPreparation of Aliphatic and Aromatic AminesBase Strength of AminesAmines as Nucleophiles, and Quaternary Ammonium SaltsAmines with Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Topic overviewCondensation Polymers: PolyestersCondensation Polymers: PolyamidesIntermolecular Forces in Condensation PolymersBiodegradability and Disposal of PolymersAmino Acids and ZwitterionsPeptide Bonds and Protein StructureHydrogen Bonding and Disulfide Bridges in ProteinsHydrolysis of Proteins and TLC IdentificationEnzymes, Active Sites and Inhibitors in Drug DesignDNA: Nucleotides, the Double Helix and Base PairingCisplatin and Anticancer Drug Action
Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography
Topic overviewMulti-Step Synthesis RoutesGreen Chemistry Principles in Synthesis DesignPrinciples of NMR and the Delta ScaleCarbon-13 NMR InterpretationProton NMR Chemical Shift and IntegrationSpin-Spin Splitting and the n+1 RuleTMS and Deuterated SolventsThin-Layer Chromatography and Rf ValuesColumn and Gas Chromatography, and GC-MS
Atomic Structure
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Papers 1 and 3
What Atomic Structure covers
Atomic structure is the first topic and is examined on Papers 1 and 3. It sets up the particles an atom is built from, how mass spectrometry weighs them, how electrons arrange themselves into sub-shells, and how ionisation energies give away that arrangement.
Where it is assessed
Papers 1 and 3
Inorganic and physical chemistry, then the synoptic paper.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Fundamental ParticlesProtons, neutrons and electrons, and the relative mass and charge of each.Open →
- Mass Number and IsotopesMass number, atomic number, and how isotopes of the same element differ.Open →
- Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Ionisation and AccelerationThe first two stages of the instrument: electrospray and electron impact ionisation, and acceleration to constant kinetic energy.Open →
- Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Drift, Detection and Calculating m/zWhy heavier ions drift more slowly, what happens at the detector, and getting relative atomic mass from the spectrum.Open →
- Electron Configuration: Sub-shells and OrbitalsThe s, p, d and f sub-shells, how many electrons each holds, and the order they fill in.Open →
- Electron Configuration: Writing Configurations for Atoms and IonsWriting configurations out for atoms and ions, including the chromium and copper exceptions.Open →
- Ionisation Energies and Periodic TrendsDefining first and successive ionisation energies, and reading trends across periods and down groups.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How are mass number, atomic number and neutron count related?
Key term
What are the three fundamental particles found in an atom?
Numbers
What is the relative mass of an electron?
Key term
What is the mass number (A) of an atom?
Process
What are the four stages of time of flight mass spectrometry in order?
Process
What happens during the third stage of TOF mass spectrometry?
Process
Why do ions with different masses separate during the drift stage?
Key term
What are the four types of sub-shells?
Key term
In what order are sub-shells filled with electrons?
Key term
Write the electron configuration of a sodium atom (atomic number 11).
Key term
Write the electron configuration of an iron atom (atomic number 26).
Key term
What are the standard conditions under which ionisation energy is measured?
Key term
Why does the second ionisation energy of an element have a larger value than its first ionisation energy?
Key term
Which two fundamental particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?
Key term
What is the atomic number (Z) of an atom?
Process
In the first stage of TOF mass spectrometry, what happens to the sample?
Process
What happens at the detector in the fourth stage of TOF mass spectrometry?
Key term
What does an orbital represent?
Key term
Write the electron configuration of a copper atom (atomic number 29).
Key term
What is the general trend in first ionisation energy across a period?
Take Atomic Structure further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
First ionisation energy vs Successive ionisation energy
First ionisation energy: the energy required to remove one electron from each atom in one mole of gaseous atoms. Successive ionisation energy: the energy required to remove a further electron from each ion in one mole of gaseous ions.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What are the three fundamental particles found in an atom?
Model answer
Protons, neutrons and electrons
- 2
What is the relative charge of a proton?
Model answer
+1
- 3
What is the relative charge of a neutron?
Model answer
0
- 4
What is the relative charge of an electron?
Model answer
-1
- 5
What is the relative mass of a proton?
Model answer
1
- 6
What is the relative mass of a neutron?
Model answer
1
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Atomic Structure revision questions
- What does Atomic Structure cover in AQA A-Level Chemistry?
- 7 subtopics: fundamental particles, mass number and isotopes, time of flight mass spectrometry: ionisation and acceleration, time of flight mass spectrometry: drift, detection and calculating m/z, electron configuration: sub-shells and orbitals, electron configuration: writing configurations for atoms and ions and ionisation energies and periodic trends. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Atomic Structure organised?
- By the AQA 7405 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Atomic Structure, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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