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Chemistry

Staff

  • Miss K Wightman (HOD)
  • Mr D Brennan
  • Mr D Carleton
  • Mrs G McFerran
  • Mrs K Bingham
  • Mr C McCurdy

The Chemistry Department aims to inform, stimulate and challenge pupils of all abilities, providing them with the opportunities necessary to improve skills that will be useful not just in their academic careers but also in everyday life.

Lagan College - Chemistry

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 students follow schemes of learning based around the Northern Ireland Curriculum framework. Activities that promote key scientific and literacy skills have been built into the schemes. These include opportunities for students to further their scientific knowledge and understanding through planning investigations, obtaining evidence, and presenting and interpreting results.

Pupils have opportunities to develop creative and critical thinking in their approach to solving scientific problems. They also develop their practical skills by carrying out experiments and demonstrate self-management by working systematically.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Chemistry

At Key Stage 4 Chemistry is studied as part of the CCEA Single Award Science and Double Award Science specification. Chemistry is also taught as a separate GCSE in which students follow the CCEA specification.

Chemistry topics that are covered are:

Single Award Chemistry Double Award Chemistry GCSE Chemistry
Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

Atomic Structure & Periodic table

Materials

Using materials to fight crime

Metals and the Reactivity Series

Qualitative Analysis

Acids, Bases & Salts

Bonding

Symbols, Formulae & Equations

Rates of Reaction

Organic Chemistry

Atomic Structure

Bonding, Structures and Nanoparticles

Periodic Table

Quantitative Chemistry

Acids, Bases and Salts

Chemical Analysis

Metals and Reactivity Series

Redox, rusting and iron

Rates of Reaction and Equilibrium

Energy Changes in Chemistry

Organic chemistry II

Quantitative Chemistry

Electrochemistry

Gas Chemistry

Atomic Structure

Bonding, Structures and Nanoparticles

Periodic Table

Quantitative Chemistry

Acids, Bases and Salts

Chemical Analysis

Solubility

Metals and Reactivity Series

Redox, rusting and iron

Rates of Reaction and Equilibrium

Energy Changes in Chemistry

Organic chemistry II

Quantitative Chemistry

Electrochemistry

Gas Chemistry

 

In year 12 students will complete a controlled assessment that is based on some of the topics studied during the course. (25% of final grade)

Post 16 Study

A Level Chemistry

The course builds on the concepts and skills that will have been developed in the GCSE Double Award, or GCSE Chemistry. Interested students should achieve a minimum GCSE grade BB or above in Double Award Science or a grade B or above in GCSE Chemistry. You will need good mathematical skills for AS and A2 Chemistry.

The AS units make up 40% of the full A level, and the A2 units make up 60%.

Extra-curricular activities

Science Club

Science club meets weekly between September and Easter and all Key Stage 3 students are encouraged to attend. They have fun and get to carry out new and exciting experiments and get to know other students from different year groups.

Departmental YouTube Channels

Videos of chemistry experiments KS3, KS4 – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDCs3TbvaGNliL4MqxE0dDQ

GCSE and A-Level Revision help – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aSVCWBhKMlnsKbNMPXH2A

Career Pathways

  • Dentist
  • Surgeon
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Vehicle Designer
  • Food Scientist
  • Meteorologist
  • Food Scientist
  • Journalist
  • Accountant
  • Nurse
  • Cosmetic Scientist