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Course Overview

Course Overview from 2008

The Salters Advanced Chemistry course conveys the excitement of contemporary chemistry, exploring the frontiers of research and applications of chemistry, and relating them to the concepts needed for AS and A2.


SAC support A2‌

The course is structured to unfold as a series of ‘chemical stories’. In total there are thirteen stories. These range from the looking at why all cars are not electric cars through to appreciating how chemistry can best be used in art restoration. At appropriate points in a story there are ‘excursions’ to consolidate the chemical concepts needed to understand the story. These excursions may direct to new chemical content or to activities and practical laboratory work. For details of the publications supporting this course. The course is assessed by OCR via a mix of written papers and practical assessment. Further details of the assessment. 

As the course progresses new chemical concepts are met and familiar ones are revisited in a range of different contexts (stories). At each meeting revisited concepts are revised and/or built upon. This ‘drip feed’ approach means that chemical content is continually revised and broken up into manageable chunks.‌‌‌‌‌

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AS & A2 Module Maps

AS Module Maps


A2 Module Maps

AS Storylines

AS Storyline

Chemistry covered

Assessment unit

The Elements of Life (EL) is a study of
the elements in the human body, the
solar system and the universe.
  • Amount of substance
  • Atomic structure
  • Atomic spectroscopy
  • Periodic Table: periodicity, Group 2
  • Chemical bonding
  • Shapes of molecules
 F331
Developing Fuels (DF) is a study of fuels and the contribution that chemists make
to the development of better fuels.
  • Reacting masses and molar volumes
  • Thermochemistry
  • Homologous series
  • Alkanes
  • Structural isomerism
  • Catalysis
  • Entropy (qualitative)
  F331
The Elements from the Sea (EL) is a
study of the extraction and uses of
chlorine and bromine.
  • Ions in solution 
  • Reacting masses and molar concentrations
  • Electronic configuration (s, p and d orbitals)
  • Types of reactions (redox, precipitation, acid-base)
  • Group 7
  • Molecular and giant (network) covalent structures
  F332
The Atmosphere (A) is a study of two important chemical processes, the depletion
of ozone in the upper atmosphere and the greenhouse effect in the lower atmosphere.
  • Interaction of matter and radiation
  • Rates of reaction (qualitative)
  • Halogenoalkanes
  • Reaction mechanisms: nucleophilic substitution
  • radical reactions
  • Chemical Equilibrium
  F332
The Polymer Revolution (PR)  tells the
story of the development of addition
polymers, many of which were the result
of 'accidental' discoveries.
  • Addition polymers
  • Alkenes
  • Reaction mechanisms: electrophilic addition
  • Alcohols
  • Geometric isomerism
  • Intermolecular forces
  • Properties of polymers in relation to structure
  F332

A2 Storylines

A2 Storyline

Chemistry covered

Assessment unit

What's in a Medicine? (WM) is the story
of aspirin and illustrates some of the
features of the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Alcohols and phenols
  • Carboxylic acids and esters
  • Mass spectrometry
  • Infrared spectroscopy
 F334
The Materials Revolution (MR) continues
the story of polymers with a study of condensation polymers such as nylons
and Kevlar, designed to have particular properties.
  • Condensation polymers
  • Carboxylic acids and acyl chlorides
  • Esters
  • Amines and amides
  • Effects of temperature changes on polymers
  • Disposal of polymers
 F334
The Thread of Life (TL) is a study of proteins, the role of DNA in protein
synthesis, and the use of chemistry to develop proteins with
particular properties
  • Amino acids, proteins and DNA
  • Optical isomerism
  • Rates of reaction
  • Chemical equilibrium
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry
 F334
The Steel Story (SS) focuses on steel
as a material, the processes used to make it, and the prevention of its corrosion.
  • Steelmaking
  • Redox and electrochemistry
  • Rusting
  • d-block chemistry
 F334
Agriculture and Industry (AI) is a
study of the contribution that chemistry makes to ensure a safe and sufficient
food supply.
  • Properties, structure and bonding
  • Trends in chemical properties across a period
  • Partition equilibria
  • Haber process
  • Chemical equilibria involving gases
 F335
Colour by Design (CD) explains why
some colours are coloured and describes
the use of chemistry to provide colours
to offer.
  • Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy
  • Chemistry of colour
  • Analytical techniques
  • Fats and oils
  • Aromatic chemistry
  • Chemistry of dyeing
 F335
The Oceans (O) describes the role of
the oceans in regulating the climate,
in forming rocks and in supporting life.
  • Enthalpy changes involving ionic compounds
  • Entropy (quantitative)
  • Acid-base equilibria and buffer solutions
  • Solubility products
 F335
Medicines by Design (MD) concerns
the effects of chemicals on the body
and the design of new pharmaceuticals.
  • Detection of ethanol in the body
  • Aldehydes and ketones
  • Organic synthesis
  • Summary of types of organic reactions and reaction
  • Mechanisms
  • Using spectroscopic techniques
 F335