Cameroon GCE A-Level Chemistry study plan

Draw electron configurations (full and shorthand) and orbital box diagrams for elements up to Z=36, then predict the block, group and likely ion for each from its position alone

Explain and apply the trends in atomic and ionic radius, ionisation energy, electron affinity and electronegativity across Periods 2 and 3 and down Groups 1, 2, 17, giving the nuclear-charge and shielding reason for each anomaly

Classify a given substance as ionic, simple molecular, giant covalent or metallic from its formula and properties, and construct a dot-and-cross diagram for it

Relate melting point, solubility and electrical conductivity of named substances to the type and strength of the forces present, using correct terminology for each

Identify the intermolecular forces (induced dipole, permanent dipole, hydrogen bonding) operating in a set of small molecules and rank them by boiling point with justification

Name and draw the skeletal and displayed formulae of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, haloalkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amines and amides, including positional and geometric isomers

Apply IUPAC rules to name branched and multi-functional molecules correctly and to write the structure from a name alone

Predict the products and reagents of the characteristic reactions of each functional group (substitution, addition, oxidation, reduction, esterification, hydrolysis) and write balanced equations for them

Distinguish alkenes from alkanes and aldehydes from ketones by describing a specific chemical test with its observable result

Explain the relative reactivity of primary, secondary and tertiary haloalkanes and of the different classes of alcohol in oxidation, in terms of structure

Describe the mechanism of electrophilic addition to alkenes, including the formation of the carbocation intermediate and the reason for Markovnikov selectivity, and represent it with curly arrows

Describe the mechanisms of free-radical substitution in alkanes and of nucleophilic substitution (SN1 and SN2) in haloalkanes, identifying the rate-determining step and the stereochemical consequence of each

Describe electrophilic substitution of benzene (nitration, halogenation, alkylation) and explain why benzene substitutes rather than adds, referring to delocalisation

Outline a two- or three-step synthesis from a given starting material to a given target, selecting reagents and conditions and naming the mechanism type at each step

Explain the meaning of homolytic and heterolytic fission, of a radical, of a nucleophile and of an electrophile, and assign the role played by each species in a given mechanism

Write and use the equilibrium constant Kc and Kp expressions for homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria, and calculate unknown concentrations or moles at equilibrium from initial amounts

Apply Le Chatelier's principle qualitatively and quantitatively to predict the effect of changing concentration, pressure and temperature on the position of equilibrium and on the value of K

Calculate rates from concentration-time and rate-concentration data, determine the order with respect to each reactant and hence the rate equation and rate constant with units

Explain collision theory, the effect of temperature and of a catalyst on the rate, and sketch and interpret Maxwell-Boltzmann and energy profile diagrams

Assign oxidation numbers, identify the oxidising and reducing agents in a redox equation, and balance half-equations and full ionic equations in acidic and alkaline media

Calculate enthalpy changes from experimental temperature data using q = mcΔT and from standard enthalpy of formation and combustion data using Hess's law cycles

Define and distinguish enthalpy of formation, combustion, neutralisation and solution, and construct a Born-Haber cycle for an ionic compound to obtain lattice enthalpy or electron affinity

Calculate pH of strong and weak acids and of strong bases from Ka, Kw and concentration, and explain the approximations used

Explain how a buffer works and calculate the pH of an acidic buffer from the Ka expression, and sketch and interpret a titration curve for strong-strong, strong-weak and weak-weak combinations

Select a suitable indicator for a given titration from the pH ranges of common indicators, justifying the choice from the titration curve

Describe and explain the trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy, melting point and reactivity down Groups 1, 2 and 17 and across Period 3, linking each to structure and bonding

Write equations for the reactions of Group 1 and 2 metals and their oxides and hydroxides with water, oxygen and acids, and for the reactions of the Group 17 elements and halide ions with silver nitrate and with concentrated sulfuric acid

Explain the thermal stability of Group 2 carbonates and nitrates and the solubility of Group 2 sulfates and hydroxides in terms of charge density and lattice versus hydration enthalpy

Describe the industrial and laboratory preparation and the characteristic reactions of the oxides and chlorides of Period 3 elements, distinguishing acidic, basic and amphoteric behaviour

Explain the anomalous behaviour of beryllium and of the first member of each p-block group and describe the inert-pair effect

Write the electron configurations of first-row transition metals and their ions, and explain why Cr and Cu are exceptions and why transition metals show variable oxidation states

Explain the origin of colour in transition metal complexes using ligand field splitting (d-orbital splitting), and predict the effect of changing ligand or oxidation state on the colour

Name and draw the shapes of complexes with coordination numbers 4 and 6, describe isomerism (geometric, optical, ligand) and explain ligand substitution and the chelate effect

State and apply the assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases and use the ideal gas equation and Dalton's law of partial pressures in calculations

Explain deviations from ideal behaviour at high pressure and low temperature in terms of intermolecular forces and molecular volume, and describe the liquid and solid states and phase changes

Design a valid experiment for a given aim, identifying the independent, dependent and controlled variables and the apparatus and safety precautions needed

Process experimental data by tabulating it with units and significant figures, plotting a graph with a line of best fit, and calculating a gradient with its uncertainty

Identify sources of systematic and random error in a described procedure and propose a specific improvement to each

Recall and explain the standard qualitative tests for cations, anions, gases and organic functional groups, and interpret a given set of observations to identify an unknown

Complete two full past-paper-style papers under timed conditions and review every error against the syllabus statements it tests