GCSE to A-level Transition Workbook Wales High School Science Department Chemistry Name:
Moving from GCSE to A Level chemistry Introduction Welcome to the A-level chemistry course at Wales High School. You have chosen to take chemistry as one of your A Level subjects, one which can open many doors for you, from chemical engineering to pharmaceuticals and medicine. The course has a lot of practical elements built in, and you will have the chance to develop these investigative skills as you progress through the two years. However, the content of the course can be challenging, and so to help you bridge the gap between GCSE and A Level we are asking all our students to complete the following work. Don t forget to bring it with you at the start of the autumn term. Don t worry if you find this work difficult, bring it with you in September and we can provide support as necessary. There is also a list of additional tasks prior to start the course, at the back of this work book, along with a few other tips. Have a great summer, and we look forward to seeing you in September. Wales High School Department of Chemistry
Introductory AS Tasks Please complete the following tasks over the course of the summer and bring them with you to your first lesson in September. Task 1 Fill in the following table: Atom/ion Atomic Number Mass Number Number of protons Number of electrons Number of neutrons Li Ar K Al 3+ Br - 235 U 238 U Task 2 Using the ions on the sheet provided, write down the formulae of these ionic substances: 1 potassium iodide 2 potassium sulphate Sodium oxide aluminium bromide magnesium chloride silver oxide iron (II) oxide iron (III) oxide calcium sulphide copper (II) chloride lithium fluoride barium chloride lead sulphide magnesium sulphate magnesium hydroxide copper (II) nitrate zinc carbonate potassium hydroxide sodium carbonate aluminium hydroxide ammonium hydroxide ammonium chloride aluminium sulphate iron (III) nitrate
Task 3 Work out the relative formula mass of the following: a) Mg(OH)2 e) (NH4)2SO4 b) Al(NO3)3 f) CuSO4.5H2O c) Fe2(SO4)3 g) Na2CO3.10H2O d) Ca(HCO3)2 h) Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2.6H2O (Hints-1-if there are brackets, everything in the brackets need to be multiplied by the number outside, 2- the dot means to add. So for CuSO4.5H2O add CuSO4 to 5 lots of H2O) Calculate the percentage by mass of the element shown in each of the following substances. You will need to use the formula masses calculated in Q1. a) O in Mg(OH)2 e) N in (NH4)2SO4 b) O in Al(NO3)3 f) O in CuSO4.5H2O c) O in Fe2(SO4)3 g) Na in Na2CO3.10H2O d) H in Ca(HCO3)2 h) Fe in Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2.6H2O Task 4 Balancing equations! A N2 + H2 B.Ca + O2 C Br2 +..KI D..Fe +..H2O E C3H8 +.O2..NH3 CaO KBr + I2 Fe3O4 + H2..CO2 +..H2O F..NH3 +..O2 NO +..H2O
Task 5 Write symbol equations for the following reactions taking place. You will first need to convert the names of the materials into formulae and balance the equation. 1. Zinc metal reacts with copper sulphate solution to produce solid copper metal and zinc sulphate solution. 2. Solid calcium hydroxide reacts with solid ammonium chloride on heating to produce solid calcium chloride, steam and ammonia gas. 3. When lead (II) nitrate is heated in a dry test tube lead (II) oxide, nitrogen dioxide gas and oxygen are produced. 4. Silicon tetrachloride reacts with water to produce a solid silicon dioxide and hydrogen chloride gas. 5. When octane vapour is burned with excess air in a car engine carbon dioxide and water vapour are produced. 6. When rubidium reacts with water, a solution of the hydroxide metal is produced as well as hydrogen gas. 7. When strontium reacts with water a solution of the hydroxide of the metal is produced as well as hydrogen gas. 8. Sodium chloride reacts with concentrated sulphuric acid to produce sodium hydrogen sulphate and hydrogen chloride.
Here is a list of the common ions that you were given on the data sheet at GCSE. You will not be given a list of these ions at A Level, you will be expected to learn and use them to construct formulae. Additional Tasks 1. Make sure that you sign up for the Royal Society of Chemistry at www.rsc.li/chemnet and look at their website for resources and opportunities that you may find useful next year. 2. Read up about recent advancements in Chemistry online using Chemistry World, Scientific American or New Scientist (you could follow them on twitter too ) 3. If you have time why not see if you can visit the University of Sheffield on one of their open days? Don t worry if you are busy as we hoping to arrange visits as part of the A Level course.