AQA A-Level
Chemistry.
Written by an A Level examiner
Comprehensive revision notes for AQA AS and A-Level Chemistry (7404/7405), organised section by section across Physical, Inorganic and Organic chemistry, with all 12 required practicals collated on one page. AS content is co-teachable with Year 12; everything examined only at full A-Level is clearly labelled so Year 12 and Year 13 students can revise exactly what their exams demand.
Physical chemistry
Sections 3.1.1–3.1.12. Each card shows its A-Level paper; Paper 3 can examine any content. Equilibrium constant Kp (3.1.10) is covered on the equilibria page.
Atomic Structure
Fundamental particles, mass number and isotopes, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, electron configuration and ionisation energies.
View notes →Amount of Substance
The mole and the Avogadro constant, the ideal gas equation, empirical and molecular formulae, balanced equations, titrations, yields and atom economy.
View notes →Bonding
Ionic, covalent, dative and metallic bonding; shapes of molecules and ions; electronegativity, polarity and intermolecular forces.
Energetics
Enthalpy change, calorimetry, Hess’s law and bond enthalpies.
Kinetics
Collision theory, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution, and the effects of temperature, concentration and catalysts on reaction rate.
Chemical Equilibria, Kc and Kp
Dynamic equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle, the equilibrium constant Kc, and Kp for homogeneous gaseous systems (A-level only).
Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations
Oxidation states, electron-transfer definitions, and constructing half-equations and overall redox equations.
Thermodynamics
Born–Haber cycles, enthalpies of solution, entropy and Gibbs free-energy change ΔG = ΔH − TΔS.
Rate Equations
Rate equations and orders of reaction, determining the rate constant, the Arrhenius equation and the rate-determining step.
Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells
Standard electrode potentials, the electrochemical series, cell EMF, and commercial cells including fuel cells.
Acids and Bases
Brønsted–Lowry theory, pH, Ka and Kw calculations, titration curves, indicators and buffer action.
Inorganic chemistry
Sections 3.2.1–3.2.6, all examined on Paper 1.
Periodicity
Classification of elements and trends in atomic radius, first ionisation energy, melting point and boiling point across Period 3.
Group 2, the Alkaline Earth Metals
Trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy and reactivity; solubility trends of hydroxides and sulfates; uses of Group 2 compounds.
Group 7(17), the Halogens
Trends in oxidising and reducing ability, halide tests with silver nitrate, and the chemistry of chlorine in water treatment.
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Reactions of Period 3 elements with oxygen, and the structures, melting points and acid–base chemistry of their oxides.
Transition Metals
Complex formation and ligands, shapes and isomerism of complexes, coloured ions, variable oxidation states and catalysis.
Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solution
Metal-aqua ions, acidity and hydrolysis reactions, and the test-tube chemistry behind identifying metal ions in solution.
Organic chemistry
Sections 3.3.1–3.3.16, all examined on Paper 2. NMR spectroscopy and chromatography (3.3.15–3.3.16) share one page.
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Nomenclature, formula types, functional groups, reaction mechanisms and structural, E–Z and stereoisomerism foundations.
Alkanes
Fractional distillation and cracking, combustion and its pollutants, and the free-radical substitution mechanism of chlorination.
Halogenoalkanes
Nucleophilic substitution and elimination mechanisms, hydrolysis rates, and ozone depletion by chlorine radicals.
Alkenes
Electrophilic addition mechanisms, carbocation stability and Markovnikov products, and addition polymers.
Alcohols
Oxidation to aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, elimination to alkenes, and ethanol production and biofuels.
Organic Analysis
Test-tube identification of functional groups, and structure determination by mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy.
Optical Isomerism
Chirality, enantiomers and racemic mixtures, and why optical isomers rotate plane-polarised light.
Aldehydes and Ketones
Oxidation and reduction of carbonyls, nucleophilic addition mechanisms, and hydroxynitrile formation.
Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Carboxylic acids, esters and esterification, acylation mechanisms, and the chemistry of acid chlorides and acid anhydrides.
Aromatic Chemistry
The bonding and stability of benzene, and electrophilic substitution: nitration and Friedel–Crafts acylation.
Amines
Preparation of amines, base strength and nucleophilicity, and the reactions of primary aliphatic and aromatic amines.
Polymers
Condensation polymers — polyesters and polyamides — their hydrolysis, biodegradability and comparison with addition polymers.
Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Amino acid chemistry, protein structure and hydrolysis, enzymes and stereospecific active sites, DNA structure and cisplatin.
Organic Synthesis
Multi-step synthesis routes connecting every functional group on the course — the synoptic heart of Paper 2.
NMR Spectroscopy and Chromatography
¹H and ¹³C NMR interpretation, chemical shifts, splitting and TMS, plus TLC, column and gas chromatography.
Required practicals
All 12 required practical activities — RP1–6 (AS & A-Level) and RP7–12 (A-level only) — collated on a single page. Paper 3 includes 40 marks on practical techniques and data analysis.
Required Practicals
Methods, apparatus, expected results, evaluation and uncertainty for all 12 practicals — titrations, enthalpy, rates, tests for ions, distillation, organic tests, EMF, pH curves, organic preparations and TLC.
1-to-1 A-Level tuition led by a current AQA examiner.
A-Level Chemistry is won on application: multi-step calculations carried through with correct units, mechanisms drawn with precise curly arrows, and extended answers structured the way mark schemes reward. If you’d like personalised support, I work with a small number of students each year — lessons cover exam technique, marked written work and revision planning, built around exactly what AQA examines.
Enquire now