Key term
Eduqas A-Level Chemistry A410QS
Formulae and Equations
Basic Ideas About Atoms
Topic overviewRadioactive decay and nuclear equationsBehaviour of α, β and γ radiationHalf-life and radioactive decay calculationsRadiation hazards and the uses of radioisotopesIonisation energy and its variation between elementsSuccessive ionisation energies and electronic structureOrbitals and electron configurations of elements 1 to 36Emission and absorption spectraThe hydrogen spectrum, E = hf and the convergence limit
Chemical Calculations
Topic overviewRelative atomic, isotopic, formula and molecular massPrinciples of the mass spectrometerMass spectra, isotopic abundance and relative atomic massEmpirical and molecular formulaeThe mole, the Avogadro constant and molar massMoles, grams and numbers of particlesConcentration and solubilityMolar volume and gas volume correctionsThe ideal gas equationStoichiometry and reacting quantitiesAcid-base titration calculationsAtom economy, percentage yield and percentage error
Bonding
Solid Structures
The Periodic Table
Topic overviewArrangement of the elements and the s-, p- and d-blocksOxidation and reduction as electron transferTrends across periods and down groupsReactions of Group 2 elements with oxygen, water and steamReactions of the aqueous cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺Flame coloursReactivity of Group 1 and Group 2 metalsThermal stability of the Group 2 carbonates and hydroxidesSolubility of the Group 2 hydroxides and sulfatesBasic character of the Group 1 and Group 2 oxides and hydroxidesVolatility of the halogens and their reactions with metalsOxidising power, displacement reactions and the silver nitrate testWater treatment, salt preparation and gravimetric analysis
Simple Equilibria and Acid-Base Reactions
Thermochemistry
Rates of Reaction
The Wider Impact of Chemistry
Organic Compounds
Hydrocarbons
Topic overviewAlkanes and the sigma-bonded frameworkCombustion of alkanes and the use of fossil fuelsFree radical substitution and the photochlorination of alkanesAlkenes and the reactivity of the C=C bondE–Z isomerismElectrophilic addition of bromine to alkenesTests for alkenesMarkovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide and carbocation stabilityCatalytic hydrogenation of alkenesAddition polymerisation
Halogenoalkanes
Topic overviewNucleophilic substitution of primary halogenoalkanesElimination reactions forming alkenesBond polarity, bond enthalpy and the ease of substitutionThe silver nitrate test for halogenoalkanesUses of halogenoalkanes and the regulation of their useCFCs and their effect in the upper atmosphereHeating under reflux
Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids
Topic overviewIndustrial preparation of ethanol from etheneFermentation and the distillation of ethanolBiofuels and the issues they raiseClassifying alcohols as primary, secondary and tertiaryDehydration of alcohols to alkenesOxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes and carboxylic acidsOxidation of secondary alcohols to ketonesThe dichromate(VI) test for alcoholsCarboxylic acids and the sodium hydrogencarbonate testReactions of carboxylic acids with bases, carbonates and hydrogencarbonatesEsterification and separation by distillation
Instrumental Analysis
Redox and Standard Electrode Potential
Redox Reactions
Chemistry of the P-Block
Topic overviewAmphoteric behaviour of aluminium and leadThe inert pair effect in Groups 3, 4 and 5Electron-deficient compounds and expanded octetsAl₂Cl₆ and donor-acceptor compoundsHexagonal and cubic boron nitrideStability of oxidation states II and IV in Group 4Carbon dioxide and lead(II) oxideBonding in the Group 4 chloridesHydrolysis of the Group 4 chloridesReactions of aqueous lead(II) ionsChlorine with cold and warm aqueous sodium hydroxideBleaching and bactericidal action of chlorine and chlorate(I)Sodium halides with concentrated sulfuric acid
Chemistry of the D-Block Transition Metals
Topic overviewOxidation states of the d-block elementsImportant oxidation states and the colours of aqueous ionsBonding in tetrahedral and octahedral complexesThe origin of colour and the splitting of d-orbitalsLigand exchange and change of coordination numberColours and formulae of copper and cobalt complex ionsHeterogeneous and homogeneous catalysisNickel in hydrogenation and iron in the Haber processVanadium(V) oxide and manganese(IV) oxide as catalystsReactions of Cr³⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ with excess aqueous hydroxide
Chemical Kinetics
Enthalpy Changes for Solids and Solutions
Entropy and Feasibility of Reactions
Equilibrium Constants
Acid-Base Equilibria
Topic overviewThe Lowry–Brønsted theory and conjugate pairsStrong and weak acids and the dissociation constant KaThe ionic product of water, KwpH of strong acids and strong basespH of weak acids from Ka and pKaTitration curvesHow buffer solutions workBuffer calculationsBuffers in living systems and industrySalt hydrolysis and the choice of indicator
Stereoisomerism
Aromaticity
Alcohols and Phenols
Aldehydes and Ketones
Topic overviewPreparing aldehydes and ketones by oxidation of alcoholsDistinguishing aldehydes and ketones with Tollens’ reagent and Fehling’s solutionReduction of aldehydes and ketones using NaBH₄Nucleophilic addition of HCN to aldehydes and ketonesReaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazineThe triiodomethane (iodoform) test
Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives
Topic overviewRelative acidity of carboxylic acids, phenols, alcohols and waterPreparing carboxylic acids by oxidationReduction and decarboxylation of carboxylic acidsAcid chlorides and their reactionsEsters and their hydrolysisAmides and their hydrolysisNitriles from carboxylic acids and halogenoalkanesHydroxynitriles, hydrolysis and reduction of nitriles
Amines
Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
Organic Synthesis and Analysis
Topic overviewPlanning a multi-step synthesisChoosing between alternative routesManipulation and separation techniquesPurification and melting temperatureAddition and condensation polymerisationPolyesters and polyamidesHigh resolution proton NMRCombining spectra to elucidate a structureInterpreting chromatographic dataGas chromatography and HPLC
Specified Practical Work
Topic overviewGravimetric analysis and qualitative analysis of unknown solutionsStandard solutions, standardising an acid and preparing a soluble saltBack titration and double titrationDetermining enthalpy changes by calorimetryFollowing a rate by gas collection, the iodine clock and reaction orderElectrochemical cells, redox titration and the estimation of copperDetermining an equilibrium constant and following a titration with a pH probeHydrolysis of 1-bromobutane and the preparation of an esterOrganic synthesis, purification and identification
Practical Skills and Techniques
Topic overviewChoosing apparatus and recording measurementsVolumetric technique with pipette, burette and volumetric flaskTitration procedure and the choice of indicatorHeating, heating under reflux and distillationFiltration, purification and qualitative testingMelting temperature, chromatography and electrochemical cellsVariables, errors and risk in evaluating a method
Mathematical Skills in Chemistry
Topic overviewStandard form, units and significant figuresRatios, fractions and percentagesChanging the subject and substituting valuesLogarithms, pH and pKaExponentials, the Arrhenius equation and rateGraphs, gradients and interceptsTangents and rates of changeArea under a curveUncertainty and combining errorsThe gas equation and equilibrium expressions
The Periodic Table
- 13 subtopics
- 39 things to know
- Components 1 and 2
What The Periodic Table covers
The Periodic Table is examined in Components 1 and 2, since the Core Ideas are examined on both written papers, and drawn on again in Component 3. It covers arrangement of the elements and the s-, p- and d-blocks, oxidation and reduction as electron transfer, trends across periods and down groups, reactions of Group 2 elements with oxygen, water and steam, reactions of the aqueous cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺, flame colours, reactivity of Group 1 and Group 2 metals, thermal stability of the Group 2 carbonates and hydroxides, solubility of the Group 2 hydroxides and sulfates, basic character of the Group 1 and Group 2 oxides and hydroxides, volatility of the halogens and their reactions with metals, oxidising power, displacement reactions and the silver nitrate test and water treatment, salt preparation and gravimetric analysis.
Where it is assessed
Components 1 and 2
the Core Ideas, Principles and Concepts, which are examined on both written papers and drawn on again in Component 3.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 13 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Arrangement of the elements and the s-, p- and d-blocksRecall questions on how the Periodic Table is ordered by proton number, what determines an element's block, which groups make up each block, classifying named elements, and how the block relates to the outer subshell being filled.Open →
- Oxidation and reduction as electron transferOxidation in terms of electrons, reduction in terms of electrons and oxidising agent.Open →
- Trends across periods and down groupsRecall questions on the trends in atomic radius, first ionisation energy, electronegativity and melting temperature across a period and down a group, the reasons in terms of nuclear charge, shielding and distance, and the breaks in the ionisation energy trend across Period 3.Open →
- Reactions of Group 2 elements with oxygen, water and steamObserved when a strip of magnesium ribbon burns in air, observed when calcium is dropped into cold water and observed when magnesium is heated in a stream of steam.Open →
- Reactions of the aqueous cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺Recall questions on the reactions of the aqueous Group 2 cations with sodium hydroxide and with sulfate ions, the precipitates formed and their colours, how the solubility trends make each test work, and distinguishing the three cations from the pattern of results.Open →
- Flame coloursTerms of electrons why a metal compound colours a flame and how a flame test is carried out.Open →
- Reactivity of Group 1 and Group 2 metalsRecall questions on the reactions of the Group 1 and Group 2 metals with oxygen, water and dilute acid, the trend in vigour down each group and its explanation through falling ionisation energy, comparing the two groups, and the equations for the named reactions.Open →
- Thermal stability of the Group 2 carbonates and hydroxidesRecall questions on the decomposition of the Group 2 carbonates and hydroxides on heating, the trend in stability down the group, the explanation in terms of the polarising power of the cation, the equations, and the approximate decomposition temperatures.Open →
- Solubility of the Group 2 hydroxides and sulfatesWhy the sulfates become less soluble down the group and why the hydroxides become more soluble down the group.Open →
- Basic character of the Group 1 and Group 2 oxides and hydroxidesRecall questions on the reactions of these oxides and hydroxides with water and with acids, the trend in basic character down each group, the pH of the resulting solutions, the equations, and their practical uses in neutralising acidity.Open →
- Volatility of the halogens and their reactions with metalsVolatility of a substance and oxidation and reduction when a metal reacts with a halogen.Open →
- Oxidising power, displacement reactions and the silver nitrate testRecall questions on the trend in oxidising power down Group 7 and its explanation, the halogen displacement reactions with their observations and ionic equations, the silver nitrate test for the halide ions, the precipitate colours, and their behaviour with dilute and concentrated ammonia.Open →
- Water treatment, salt preparation and gravimetric analysisMain benefit of chlorinating a water supply, two risks associated with the chlorination of water and risk associated with adding fluoride to water.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Why do the melting temperatures of the Group 2 metals not fall smoothly down the group?
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How can hydroxide and sulfate reagents together distinguish between Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺?
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Explain why the sulfates become less soluble down the group.
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Describe how a soluble salt is prepared from an acid and an insoluble base.
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Why is atomic number a better basis for the order than relative atomic mass?
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Define oxidation in terms of electrons.
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Write a general equation for a Group 2 metal burning in oxygen.
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What flame colour is given by a lithium compound?
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How does reactivity change down Group 1?
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Write the equation, with state symbols, for the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.
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Write the equation for sodium oxide reacting with water.
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What is meant by the volatility of a substance?
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Explain the trend in oxidising power down Group 7.
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Which elements make up the s-block?
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Define reduction in terms of electrons.
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Write the equation, with state symbols, for magnesium burning in oxygen.
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What is observed when aqueous sodium hydroxide is added to a solution containing Mg²⁺ ions?
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What flame colour is given by a sodium compound?
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Explain the reactivity trend down Group 1.
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How does the thermal stability of the Group 2 carbonates change down the group?
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How does the solubility of the Group 2 hydroxides change down the group?
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Write the equation for calcium oxide reacting with water and describe what is seen.
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How does the volatility of the halogens change down Group 7?
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Write the ionic equation for chlorine added to aqueous potassium bromide.
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Write the equation for chlorine dissolving in water.
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Which elements make up the p-block?
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Define an oxidising agent.
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Which element of Period 3 has the highest first ionisation energy?
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Why is the reaction of a Group 2 metal with oxygen a redox reaction?
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Write the ionic equation for the reaction of Mg²⁺ with hydroxide ions.
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What flame colour is given by a potassium compound?
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Compare the reactivity of a Group 1 metal with the Group 2 metal in the same period.
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Explain the trend in thermal stability in terms of polarisation.
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How does the solubility of the Group 2 sulfates change down the group?
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Write the ionic equation for the reaction of the oxide ion with water.
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Explain the trend in volatility down Group 7.
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What is observed when chlorine water is added to aqueous potassium bromide?
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Which species formed when chlorine dissolves is responsible for killing bacteria?
Take The Periodic Table further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
In order of which quantity are the elements arranged in the modern Periodic Table?
Model answer
They are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, that is the number of protons in the nucleus.
- 2
Why is atomic number a better basis for the order than relative atomic mass?
Model answer
Atomic number is a whole number that never repeats and it fixes the electron arrangement, whereas ordering by mass would place a few pairs such as argon and potassium in groups whose chemistry they do not share.
- 3
What is a group, and what do the elements in one have in common?
Model answer
A group is a vertical column, and its members all have the same number of electrons in their outermost shell, which is why their chemistry is so similar.
- 4
What is a period, and what changes as you move along one?
Model answer
A period is a horizontal row, and moving along it adds one proton to the nucleus and one electron to the same outer shell at each step.
- 5
Which elements make up the s-block?
Model answer
The s-block contains those elements whose highest-energy electron enters an s sub-shell, which is Groups 1 and 2 together with helium.
- 6
Which elements make up the p-block?
Model answer
The p-block contains those elements whose highest-energy electron enters a p sub-shell, which is Group 3 through to Group 0 apart from helium.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The Periodic Table revision questions
- What does The Periodic Table cover in Eduqas A-Level Chemistry?
- 13 subtopics: arrangement of the elements and the s-, p- and d-blocks, oxidation and reduction as electron transfer, trends across periods and down groups, reactions of group 2 elements with oxygen, water and steam, reactions of the aqueous cations mg²⁺, ca²⁺ and ba²⁺, flame colours, reactivity of group 1 and group 2 metals, thermal stability of the group 2 carbonates and hydroxides, solubility of the group 2 hydroxides and sulfates, basic character of the group 1 and group 2 oxides and hydroxides, volatility of the halogens and their reactions with metals, oxidising power, displacement reactions and the silver nitrate test and water treatment, salt preparation and gravimetric analysis. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is The Periodic Table organised?
- By the Eduqas A410QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in The Periodic Table, 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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