New specifications
Continuing specifications
GCSE Additional ScienceUnit 6 (Additional Science 2)
Biology
B2.5 Proteins – their functions and uses
Overview
Proteins have many functions, both inside and outside the cells of living organisms.
Proteins, as enzymes, are now used widely in the home and in industry.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using enzymes in the home and in industry.
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B2.6 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Overview
Respiration in cells can take place aerobically or anaerobically. The energy released is used in a variety of ways. The human body needs to react to the increased demand for energy during exercise
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- interpret the data relating to the effects of exercise on the human body.
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B2.7 Cell division and inheritance
Overview
Characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next in both plants and animals. Simple genetic diagrams can be used to show this. There are ethical considerations in treating genetic disorders.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- explain why Mendel proposed the idea of separately inherited factors and why the importance of this discovery was not recognised until after his death
- Candidates should be familiar with principles used by Mendel in investigating monohybrid inheritance in peas. They should understand that Mendel's work preceded the work of other scientists which linked Mendel's 'inherited factors' with chromosomes
- interpret genetic diagrams, including family trees
- construct genetic diagrams of monohybrid crosses and predict the outcomes of monohybrid crosses and be able to use the terms homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype and genotype (HT only)
- Foundation tier candidates should be able to interpret genetic diagrams of monohybrid inheritance and sex inheritance but will not be expected to construct genetic diagrams or use the terms homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype or genotype
- predict and / or explain the outcome of crosses between individuals for each possible combination of dominant and recessive alleles of the same gene
- make informed judgements about the social and ethical issues concerning the use of stem cells from embryos in medical research and treatments
- make informed judgements about the economic, social and ethical issues concerning embryo screening.
- Data may be given for unfamiliar contexts.
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Overview
Changes in the environment of plants and animals may cause them to die out. The fossil record shows that new organisms arise, flourish, and after a time become extinct. The record also shows changes that lead to the formation of new species.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- suggest reasons why scientists cannot be certain about how life began on Earth.
- The uncertainty arises from the lack of enough valid and reliable evidence.
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Chemistry
Overview
Being able to speed up or slow down chemical reactions is important in everyday life and in industry. Changes in temperature, concentration of solution, gas pressure, surface area of solids and the presence of catalysts all affect the rates of reactions. Catalysts can help to reduce the cost of some industrial processes.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- interpret graphs showing the amount of product formed (or reactant used up) with time, in terms of the rate of the reaction
- Knowledge of specific reactions other than those in the subject content for this unit is not expected, but candidates will be expected to have studied examples of chemical reactions and processes in developing their skills during their study of this section.
- explain and evaluate the development, advantages and disadvantages of using catalysts in industrial processes.
- Information may be given in examination questions so that candidates can make evaluations.
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C2.5 Exothermic and endothermic reactions
Overview
Chemical reactions involve energy transfers. Many chemical reactions involve the release of energy. For other chemical reactions to occur, energy must be supplied.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate everyday uses of exothermic and endothermic reactions.
- Candidates may be given data from which to draw conclusions.
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Overview
Soluble salts can be made from acids and insoluble salts can be made from solutions of ions. When acids and alkalis react the result is a neutralisation reaction.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- select an appropriate method for making a salt, given appropriate information.
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Overview
Ionic compounds have many uses and can provide other substances. Electrolysis is used to produce alkalis and elements such as aluminium, chlorine and hydrogen. Oxidation–reduction reactions do not just involve oxygen.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- predict the products of electrolysing solutions of ions
- Knowledge and understanding is limited to the methods indicated in the subject content.
- explain and evaluate processes that use the principles described in this unit, including the use of electroplating.
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Physics
P2.4 Using mains electricity safely and the power of electrical appliances
Overview
Mains electricity is useful but can be very dangerous. It is important to know how to use it safely.
Electrical appliances transfer energy. The power of an electrical appliance is the rate at which it transforms energy. Most appliances have their power and the potential difference of the supply they need printed on them. From this we can calculate their current and the fuse they need.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- understand the principles of safe practice and recognise dangerous practice in the use of mains electricity
- compare the uses of fuses and circuit breakers
- evaluate and explain the need to use different cables for different appliances
- consider the factors involved when making a choice of electrical appliances.
- Candidates should consider the efficiency and power of the appliance.
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P2.5 What happens when radioactive substances decay, and the uses and dangers of their emissions
Overview
Radioactive substances emit radiation from the nuclei of their atoms all the time. These nuclear radiations can be very useful but may also be very dangerous. It is important to understand the properties of different types of nuclear radiation. To understand what happens to radioactive substances when they decay we need to understand the structure of the atoms from which they are made. The use of radioactive sources depends on their penetrating power and half life.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate the effect of occupation and/or location on the level of background radiation and radiation dose
- evaluate the possible hazards associated with the use of different types of nuclear radiation
- evaluate measures that can be taken to reduce exposure to nuclear radiations
- evaluate the appropriateness of radioactive sources for particular uses, including as tracers, in terms of the type(s) of radiation emitted and their half-lives
- explain how results from the Rutherford and Marsden scattering experiments led to the 'plum pudding' model being replaced by the nuclear model.
- Candidates should realise that new evidence can cause a theory to be re-evaluated.
- Candidates should realise that, according to the nuclear model, most of the atom is empty space.
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P2.6 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
Overview
During the process of nuclear fission atomic nuclei split. This process releases energy, which can be used to heat water and turn it into steam. The steam drives a turbine, which is connected to a generator and generates electricity.
Nuclear fusion is the joining together of atomic nuclei and is the process by which energy is released in stars.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- compare the uses of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
- Limited to the generation of electricity
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