AQA A-Level
Chemistry.
Written by an A Level examiner
Comprehensive revision notes for AQA AS and A-Level Chemistry (7404/7405), organised by Physical, Inorganic and Organic chemistry, with all 12 required practicals collated on one page.
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.
View notes →Energetics
Enthalpy change, calorimetry, Hess’s law and bond enthalpies.
View notes →Kinetics
Collision theory, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution, and the effects of temperature, concentration and catalysts on reaction rate.
View notes →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).
View notes →Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations
Oxidation states, electron-transfer definitions, and constructing half-equations and overall redox equations.
View notes →Thermodynamics
Born–Haber cycles, enthalpies of solution, entropy and Gibbs free-energy change ΔG = ΔH − TΔS.
View notes →Rate Equations
Rate equations and orders of reaction, determining the rate constant, the Arrhenius equation and the rate-determining step.
View notes →Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells
Standard electrode potentials, the electrochemical series, cell EMF, and commercial cells including fuel cells.
View notes →Acids and Bases
Brønsted–Lowry theory, pH, Ka and Kw calculations, titration curves, indicators and buffer action.
View notes →Inorganic chemistry
Sections 3.2.1–3.2.6, all examined on Paper 1.
Periodicity
Classifying elements into s, p, d and f blocks, and the Period 3 trends in atomic radius, first ionisation energy and melting point.
View notes →Group 2, the Alkaline Earth Metals
Trends down the alkaline earth metals, reactions with water, the solubility of the hydroxides and sulfates, and the sulfate test.
View notes →Group 7(17), the Halogens
Halogen trends, the oxidising power of the halogens and reducing power of the halides, the silver nitrate test, and chlorine chemistry.
View notes →Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Sodium to sulfur burning in oxygen, melting points explained by structure and bonding, and the sweep from basic through amphoteric to acidic in water.
Transition Metals
Complex formation and ligands, shapes and isomerism of complexes, coloured ions, variable oxidation states and catalysis.
View notes →Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solution
Metal-aqua ions, acidity and hydrolysis reactions, and the test-tube chemistry behind identifying metal ions in solution.
View notes →Organic chemistry
Sections 3.3.1–3.3.16, all examined on Paper 2.
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Formulae and IUPAC naming, structural and E–Z isomerism, functional groups and homologous series, and curly-arrow mechanisms.
View notes →Alkanes
Fractional distillation and cracking of crude oil, complete and incomplete combustion and its pollutants, and free-radical substitution.
View notes →Halogenoalkanes
Nucleophilic substitution with OH−, CN− and NH3, the C–X bond-enthalpy rate trend, elimination vs substitution, and ozone depletion by CFCs.
View notes →Alkenes
The C=C double bond, electrophilic addition with HBr, H2SO4 and Br2, carbocation stability and major products, and addition polymers.
View notes →Alcohols
Oxidation to aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, elimination to alkenes, and ethanol production and biofuels.
View notes →Organic Analysis
Test-tube identification of functional groups, and structure determination by mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy.
View notes →Optical Isomerism
Chirality, enantiomers and racemic mixtures, and why optical isomers rotate plane-polarised light.
View notes →Aldehydes and Ketones
Oxidation and reduction of carbonyls, nucleophilic addition mechanisms, and hydroxynitrile formation.
View notes →Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Weak acids, esters and hydrolysis, fats, soap and biodiesel, and the addition–elimination chemistry of acyl chlorides and anhydrides.
View notes →Aromatic Chemistry
The bonding and stability of benzene, and electrophilic substitution: nitration and Friedel–Crafts acylation.
View notes →Amines
Preparation of amines, base strength and nucleophilicity, and the reactions of primary aliphatic and aromatic amines.
View notes →Polymers
Condensation polymers — polyesters and polyamides — their hydrolysis, biodegradability and comparison with addition polymers.
Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Zwitterions and the ions amino acids form at any pH, the peptide link and protein structure, TLC, enzymes and stereospecific active sites, DNA base pairing and cisplatin.
Organic Synthesis
Multi-step synthesis routes connecting every functional group on the course — the synoptic heart of Paper 2.
View notes →NMR Spectroscopy
¹H and ¹³C NMR interpretation — chemical shifts, integration, splitting patterns, TMS and deuterated solvents.
View notes →Chromatography
The balance between the moving and stationary phases, TLC and Rf values with Required Practical 12, column chromatography, and gas chromatography with GC–MS.
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.
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