New specifications
Continuing specifications
GCSE ChemistryUnit 1
C1.1 The fundamental ideas in chemistry
Overview
Atoms and elements are the building blocks of chemistry. Atoms contain protons, neutrons and electrons. When elements react they produce compounds.
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C1.2 Limestone and building materials
Overview
Rocks provide essential building materials. Limestone is a naturally occurring resource that provides a starting point for the manufacture of cement and concrete.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- consider and evaluate the environmental, social and economic effects of exploiting limestone and producing building materials from it
- Candidates should know that limestone is needed for buildings and that the positive benefits of using this material should be considered against the negative aspects of quarrying.
- Knowledge of building materials is limited to limestone, cement and concrete.
- evaluate the developments in using limestone, cement and concrete as building materials, and their advantages and disadvantages over other materials.
- Knowledge of particular developments is not required, but information may be supplied in examination questions for candidates to evaluate.
- Knowledge of the properties of other building materials is not required, but candidates may be provided with information about materials such as timber, stone, glass and steels in the examination so that they can make comparisons about their uses.
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Overview
Metals are very useful in our everyday lives. Ores are naturally occurring rocks that provide an economic starting point for the manufacture of metals. Iron ore is used to make iron and steel. Copper can be easily extracted but copper-rich ores are becoming scarce so new methods of extracting copper are being developed. Aluminium and titanium are useful metals but are expensive to produce. Metals can be mixed together to make alloys.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- consider and evaluate the social, economic and environmental impacts of exploiting metal ores, of using metals and of recycling metals
- Candidates should know that metal ores are obtained by mining and that this may involve digging up and processing large amounts of rock.
- Knowledge and understanding of obtaining, using and recycling metals is limited to the metals named in the subject content.
- evaluate the benefits, drawbacks and risks of using metals as structural materials.
- Knowledge and understanding of the uses and properties of metals and alloys is limited to those specified in the subject content. Information may be given in examination questions so that candidates can evaluate their uses.
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Overview
Crude oil is derived from an ancient biomass found in rocks. Many useful materials can be produced from crude oil. Crude oil can be fractionally distilled. Some of the fractions can be used as fuels. Biofuels are produced from plant material. There are advantages and disadvantages to their use as fuels. Fuels can come from renewable or non-renewable resources.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate the impact on the environment of burning hydrocarbon fuels
- Knowledge and understanding of the products of burning hydrocarbon fuels and the effects of these products is limited to those named in the subject content for this section.
- consider and evaluate the social, economic and environmental impacts of the uses of fuels
- Candidates may be given information and data about other fuels and their products of combustion for comparison and evaluation in the examinations.
- evaluate developments in the production and uses of better fuels, for example ethanol and hydrogen
- Candidates should know and understand the benefits and disadvantages of ethanol and hydrogen as fuels in terms of:
- use of renewable resources
- storage and use of the fuels
- their products of combustion.
- Candidates should know and understand the benefits and disadvantages of ethanol and hydrogen as fuels in terms of:
- evaluate the benefits, drawbacks and risks of using plant materials to produce fuels.
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C1.5 Other useful substances from crude oil
Overview
Fractions from the distillation of crude oil can be broken down (cracked) to make smaller molecules including unsaturated hydrocarbons such as ethene. Unsaturated hydrocarbons can be used to make polymers and ethene can be used to make ethanol. Ethanol can also be made by fermentation.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate the social and economic advantages and disadvantages of using products from crude oil as fuels or as raw materials for plastics and other chemicals
- Candidates should be aware that crude oil is used to produce fuels and chemicals, and that it is a limited resource.
- Candidates should be able to evaluate information about the ways in which crude oil and its products are used. Although candidates will probably know the names of some common polymers, these are not required knowledge, unless they are included in the subject content for this section.
- evaluate the social, economic and environmental impacts of the uses, disposal and recycling of polymers
- evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of making ethanol from renewable and non-renewable sources.
- Candidates should be able to compare the environmental impact of producing ethanol from renewable and non-renewable sources.
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C1.6 Plant oils and their uses
Overview
Many plants produce useful oils that can be converted into consumer products including processed foods. Emulsions can be made and have a number of uses. Vegetable oils can be hardened to make margarine. Biodiesel fuel can be produced from vegetable oils.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- evaluate the effects of using vegetable oils in foods and the impacts on diet and health
- Knowledge is limited to the high-energy content of vegetable oils, the possible health benefits of unsaturated fats compared with saturated fats, and the effects of cooking foods in oil. Information may be provided in examinations for candidates to evaluate.
- evaluate the use, benefits, drawbacks and risks of emulsifiers in foods.
- Candidates do not need to recall the names of specific additives. Further information will be provided in questions for evaluation and comparison.
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C1.7 Changes in the Earth and its atmosphere
Overview
The Earth and its atmosphere provide everything we need. The Earth has a layered structure. The surface of the Earth and its atmosphere have changed since the Earth was formed and are still changing. The atmosphere has been much the same for the last 200 million years and provides the conditions needed for life on Earth. Recently human activities have resulted in further changes in the atmosphere. There is more than one theory about how life was formed.
Candidates should use their skills, knowledge and understanding to:
- recognise that the Earth's crust, the atmosphere and the oceans are the only source of minerals and other resources that humans need
- explain why Wegener's theory of crustal movement (continental drift) was not generally accepted for many years
- Candidates should have studied accounts of Wegener's work. Knowledge is limited to the theories relating to mountain building and continental drift.
- Candidates should know that scientists once thought that the features of the Earth's surface were the result of the shrinking of the crust as the Earth cooled down following its formation.
- explain why scientists cannot accurately predict when earthquakes and volcanic eruptions will occur
- Candidates may be given information which they will be expected to interpret.
- explain and evaluate theories of the changes that have occurred and are occurring in the Earth's atmosphere
- Candidates should be able to compare and evaluate different theories when given suitable information.
- explain and evaluate the effects of human activities on the atmosphere
- Knowledge of the effects of human activities is limited to those in the subject content.
- describe why we do not know how life was first formed.
- HT only
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