GCE A/L Chemistry study guide
GCE A/L Chemistry · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The GCE Advanced Level Chemistry examination in Sri Lanka is the school-leaving and university-entrance qualification taken after the Ordinary Level, sat by students aiming for science, engineering, medicine, and related university courses. It is a national examination administered by the Department of Examinations, and this page is an independent study resource with no official affiliation. The GCE A/L Chemistry study guide has 12 sections and about 3,381 words.
01Atomic Structure and Periodicity
Atomic structure and periodicity questions ask you to move between electron configuration, quantum numbers and measurable periodic trends - ionisation energy, atomic and ionic radius, electronegativity and melting point. Fill orbitals in Aufbau order but remember the 4s/3d crossover: 4s fills first, yet 3d electrons are lost first when a transition metal ionises.
326 words, about 2 min02Chemical Bonding and Intermolecular Forces
Predicting shapes, polarity and physical properties from bonding, and explaining why substances with similar Mr can have very different boiling points. VSEPR: electron domains repel; lone pairs repel more than bonding pairs.
307 words, about 2 min03Gases, Kinetic Theory and the Mole Concept
Mole calculations, ideal gas behaviour, and applying kinetic theory to explain deviations from ideality. pV = nRT with p in Pa, V in m3, T in K and R = 8.314 J K−1 mol−1.
294 words, about 1 min04Energetics and Thermochemistry
Enthalpy changes from Hess cycles, calorimetry and bond enthalpies, including Born–Haber cycles. Standard conditions are 298 K and 100 kPa; ΔH is negative for exothermic reactions.
271 words, about 1 min05Chemical Equilibrium
Writing equilibrium constants, calculating equilibrium compositions, and predicting the effect of changing conditions. Dynamic equilibrium requires a closed system and equal forward and reverse rates; concentrations remain constant, not equal.
274 words, about 1 min06Chemical Equilibrium: Acids, Bases and Buffers
pH calculations for strong and weak acids, buffers, salt hydrolysis and titration curves. Brønsted–Lowry: acids donate protons, bases accept them; conjugates differ by H+.
284 words, about 1 min07Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms
Rate equations from experimental data, orders of reaction, the effect of temperature, and deducing mechanisms. Rate = k[A]m[B]n; orders m and n come from experiment, never from the stoichiometric equation.
293 words, about 1 min08Electrochemistry and Redox
Redox balancing, cell potentials, predicting electrolysis products and Faraday calculations. Oxidation is loss of electrons and reduction is gain; oxidation numbers track electron transfer.
272 words, about 1 min09Organic Chemistry: Structure, Nomenclature and Functional Groups
Naming organic compounds systematically, recognising functional groups, and identifying isomers. Find the longest carbon chain containing the principal functional group; number to give that group the lowest locant, then give substituents the lowest locants.
231 words, about 1 min10Organic Reaction Mechanisms and Synthesis
Curly-arrow mechanisms, reagents and conditions, and planning short syntheses. Free-radical substitution: initiation (UV splits the halogen), propagation, termination.
247 words, about 1 min11Industrial, Environmental and Applied Chemistry
Large-scale processes, their conditions and compromises, plus environmental consequences and green-chemistry measures. Haber process: N2 + 3H2 ⇌ 2NH3, iron catalyst, about 450 °C and 200 atm.
273 words, about 1 min12Laboratory Techniques, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
Practical technique, qualitative identification of ions and gases, purification, and interpreting spectra. Titration: rinse the burette with the solution it will contain and the pipette with the solution being measured; the conical flask is rinsed with distilled water.
309 words, about 2 min