Eduqas A Level Chemistry AS Component 1: The Language of Chemistry, Structure of Matter and Simple Reactions Exam Questions

About Eduqas A Level Chemistry AS Component 1: The Language of Chemistry, Structure of Matter and Simple Reactions

AS Component 1 of the Eduqas AS Chemistry course covers the foundations of chemistry that the rest of the course depends on. It includes writing formulae and equations, atomic structure, radioactivity and electronic configuration, chemical calculations, bonding and intermolecular forces, solid structures, periodic trends in the s-block and halogens, and an introduction to equilibrium and acid-base reactions. These ideas are reused throughout the A Level physical, inorganic and organic content. Examiners test definitions, explanations of trends using electronic structure, and careful mole calculations including titrations, with marks awarded for working, units and significant figures.

What you need to know

• 1.1 Formulae and equations Write formulae from ions and oxidation states, balanced equations with state symbols and ionic equations. Use oxidation numbers to identify redox.
• 1.2 Basic ideas about atoms Protons, neutrons and electrons; isotopes; alpha, beta and gamma radiation and half-life; ionisation energies as evidence for shells and subshells; s, p and d electronic configurations; emission spectra of hydrogen.
• 1.3 Chemical calculations Moles, empirical formulae, reacting masses, gas volumes and pV = nRT, concentrations, titrations, percentage yield, atom economy and percentage error in measurements.
• 1.4 and 1.5 Bonding and solid structures Ionic, covalent, dative and metallic bonding, electronegativity, VSEPR shapes and intermolecular forces including hydrogen bonding. Know the structures of NaCl, CsCl, diamond, graphite and ice and how structure explains properties.
• 1.6 The Periodic Table Trends in Groups 1 and 2 (reactions, thermal stability of carbonates, solubility of hydroxides and sulfates, flame colours) and Group 7 (oxidising power, displacement, halide tests with silver nitrate).
• 1.7 Equilibria and acid-base reactions Dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle and writing Kc expressions. Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases, strong and weak acids, pH of strong acids and acid-base titrations.

Common mistakes in AS Component 1: The Language of Chemistry, Structure of Matter and Simple Reactions

• Writing ionisation energy equations without gaseous state symbols.
• Confusing half-life with the time for all of a sample to decay. After each half-life, half of the remaining nuclei have decayed.
• Forgetting to convert cm3 to dm3 or kPa to Pa in calculations.
• Describing hydrogen bonds as bonds within a molecule. They are intermolecular forces between molecules.
• Stating that equilibrium means equal concentrations. It means constant concentrations with equal forward and reverse rates.

Try three AS Component 1: The Language of Chemistry, Structure of Matter and Simple Reactions exam-style questions