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CIE A-level Chemistry Revision Notes

Categorised into different topics, these CIE A-Level Chemistry revision notes have been compiled specifically for the CIE exam. whether you want to revise a particular area, or everything, our notes clearly explain even the hardest of concepts and include diagrams and tips to support you.

CIE 1: Atomic Structure

Ionisation Energies (A-Level Chemistry)

Periodicity – Classification (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Ion Formation (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Electron Arrangement (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Electrons in Atoms (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Element Isotopes (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Atomic and Mass Number (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Subatomic Particles (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 2: Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry

Bonding – Ion Formation (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Calculating Percentage Yields (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Stoichiometric Calculations (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Balancing Chemical Equations (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Empirical and Molecular Formulae (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Further Mole Calculations (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance- The Mole and The Avogadro Constant (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – Measuring Relative Masses (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 3: Chemical bonding

Bonding – Hydrogen Bonding in Water (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Forces Between Molecules (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Bond Polarity (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Molecular Shapes (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Properties of Metallic Bonding (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Covalent Bonds (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Properties of Ionic Bonding (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 4: States of matter

Bonding – Predicting Structures (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Carbon Allotropes (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Properties of Metallic Bonding (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Properties of Covalent Structures (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Properties of Ionic Bonding (A-Level Chemistry)

Amount of Substance – The Ideal Gas Equation (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 6: Electrochemistry

Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations – Balancing Redox Equations (A-Level Chemistry)

Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations – Redox Processes (A-Level Chemistry)

Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations – Oxidation States (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 7: Equilibria

Acids and Bases – Drawing pH Curves (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Acid-Base Indicators (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – The pH Scale and Strong Acids (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Neutralisation Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Acid and Base Strength (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – The Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory (A-Level Chemistry)

Equilibrium Constant for Homogenous Systems – Le Chatelier’s Principle in Gas Equilibria (A-Level Chemistry)

Equilibrium Constant for Homogenous Systems – Gas Equilibria and Kp (A-Level Chemistry)

Equilibrium Constant for Homogeneous System – Changing Kp (A-Level Chemistry)

Equilibrium Constant for Homogenous Systems – Gas Partial Pressures (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 8: Reaction kinetics

Kinetics – The Maxwell–Boltzmann Distribution and Catalysts (A-Level Chemistry)

Kinetics – The Collision Theory and Reaction Rates (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 9: The Periodic Table

Properties of Period 3 Elements – Properties of Period 3 Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Properties of Period 3 Elements – Reactivity of Period 3 Elements (A-Level Chemistry)

Periodicity – Trends Along Period 3 (A-Level Chemistry)

Periodicity – Classification (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 10: Group 2

Reactions of Group 2 Elements (A-Level Chemistry)

Group 2, The Alkaline Earth Metals (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 11: Group 17

The Halogens -Halide Ions and their Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

The Halogens – Disproportionation Reactions in Halogens (A-Level Chemistry)

The Halogens – Reactions with Halogens (A-Level Chemistry)

The Halogens – Group 7, The Halogens (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 13: Intro to AS Organic Chemistry

Optical Isomerism (A-Level Chemistry)

Alkanes – Alkanes: Properties and Reactivity (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Structural Isomers (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – E/Z Isomerism (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – General Formulae (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Introduction to Functional Groups (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Naming and Representing Organic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Bonding – Covalent Bonds (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 14: Hydrocarbons

Alkenes – Addition Polymerisation in Alkenes (A-Level Chemistry)

Alkenes – Alkene Structure and Reactivity (A-Level Chemistry)

Alkanes – Obtaining Alkanes (A-Level Chemistry)

Alkanes – Alkanes: Properties and Reactivity (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 15: Halogen compounds

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Halogenoalkanes – Reactivity of Halogenoalkanes (A-Level Chemistry)

Halogenoalkanes – Introduction to Halogenoalkanes (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 16: Hydroxy compounds

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Aldehydes and Ketones – Testing for Carbonyl Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Alcohols – Alcohol Reactivity (A-Level Chemistry)

Alcohols – Alcohol oxidation (A-Level Chemistry)

Alcohols – Introduction to Alcohols (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 17: Carbonyl compounds

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Aldehydes and Ketones – Testing for Carbonyl Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Aldehydes and Ketones – Reactivity of Carbonyl Compunds (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 18: Carboxylic acids and derivatives

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Properties and Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 19: Nitrogen Compounds

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Amines – Nitriles (A-Level Chemistry)

Amines – Amine Synthesis (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 20: Polymerisation

Polymer Disposal (A-Level Chemistry)

Polymer Biodegradability (A-Level Chemistry)

Condensation Polymers (A-Level Chemistry)

21: Organic Synthesis

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aromatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Organic Analysis – Identification of Functional Groups (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 22: Analytical Techniques

Organic Analysis – Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy (A-Level Chemistry)

Atomic Structure – Mass Spectrometry (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 23: Chemical Energetics

Thermodynamic – Calculations involving Free Energy (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Gibbs Free Energy (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Entropy Change Predictions (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Total Entropy Changes (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Introduction to Entropy (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Calculating Enthalpy Changes of Solution (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Enthalpy of Solution (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Enthalpy of Hydration (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Calculations involving Born-Haber Cycles (A-Level Chemistry)

Thermodynamic – Construction of Born-Haber Cycles (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 24: Electrochemistry

Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells – Electrochemical Cells Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells – Representing Electrochemical Cells (A-Level Chemistry)

Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells – Electrode Potentials (A-Level Chemistry)

Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells – Half Cells and Full Cells (A-Level Chemistry)

Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Equations – Balancing Redox Equations (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 25: Equilibria

Acids and Bases – Titrations (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Buffer Action (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Dilutions and pH (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – pH of Strong Bases (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – The Acid Dissociation Constant, Ka (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – The pH Scale and Strong Acids (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – Acid and Base Strength (A-Level Chemistry)

Acids and Bases – The Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE: 26: Reaction Kinetics, Catalysts

Transition Metals – Transition Metals as Homogeneous Catalysts (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Transition Metals as Heterogeneous Catalysts (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Reaction Determining Steps (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Reaction Half Lives (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Uses of Clock Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Determining Orders of Reactions Graphically (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Temperature Changes and the Rate Constant (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – The Rate Constant (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – Introduction to Orders of Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

Rate Equations – The Rate Equation (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 27: Group 2 Elements

Reactions of Group 2 Elements (A-Level Chemistry)

Group 2, The Alkaline Earth Metals (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 28: Chemistry of transition elements

Transition Metals – Examples of Redox Reactions in Transition Metals (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Iodine-Sodium Thiosulfate Titrations (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Carrying Titrations with Potassium Permanganate (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Ligand Substitution Reactions (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Colour in Transition Metal Ions (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Optical Isomerism in Complex Ions (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Cis-Trans Isomerism in Complex Ions (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Complex Ion Shape (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Ligands (A-Level Chemistry)

Transition Metals – Introduction to Complex Ions (A-Level Chemistry)

29: Intro to Organic Chemistry

Aromatic Chemistry – Electrophilic Substitution Reactions in Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Benzene Nomenclature (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Improved Benzene Model (A-Level Chemistry)

Optical Isomerism (A-Level Chemistry)

Introduction to Organic Chemistry – Naming and Representing Organic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 30: Hydrocarbons

Aromatic Chemistry – Reactivity of Substituted Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Friedel-Crafts Acylation and Alkylation (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Halogenation Reactions in Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Electrophilic Substitution Reactions in Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 31: Halogen compounds

Aromatic Chemistry – Reactivity of Substituted Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

Aromatic Chemistry – Electrophilic Substitution Reactions in Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 32: Hydroxy compounds

Aromatic Chemistry – Reactivity of Substituted Benzene (A-Level Chemistry)

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Acyl Groups (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 33: Carboxylic acids and derivatives

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Structure of Amides (A-Level Chemistry)

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Acyl Groups (A-Level Chemistry)

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Properties and Reactivity of Esters (A-Level Chemistry)

Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives – Properties and Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 34: Nitrogen compounds

Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA – Structure of Amino Acids (A-Level Chemistry)

Amines – Properties and Reactivity of Amines (A-Level Chemistry)

Amines – Amine Synthesis (A-Level Chemistry)

Amines – Introduction to Amines (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 35: Polymerisation

Polymer Biodegradability (A-Level Chemistry)

Condensation Polymers (A-Level Chemistry)

Polyamide Formation (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 36: Organic synthesis

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aromatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

Organic Synthesis – Organic Synthesis: Aliphatic Compounds (A-Level Chemistry)

CIE 37: Analytic techniques

Analytical Techniques – Deuterium use in ¹H NMR (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – High Resolution ¹H NMR (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – Types of NMR: Hydrogen (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – Types of NMR: Carbon 13 (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – NMR Samples and Standards (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – Different Types of Chromatography (A-Level Chemistry)

Analytical Techniques – Chromatography (A-Level Chemistry)

FAQs

Read some of our most frequently asked questions and answers

Should I write my own CIE A-Level Chemistry revision notes?

This is up to you and the way you revise best. While it is not essential to write everything down, writing information in your own words and organise topics in a way that makes sense to you will help you to retain the information better.

What is assessed on the CIE A-Level Chemistry exam?

The syllabus is broken into three strands: physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Additionally, students will be assessed on their analytical techniques within the strands above.

How long is the CIE A-Level Chemistry exam?

Students taking the A2 (second year) of A-Level Chemistry, will be required to sit two papers. You will have a maximum of 2 hours for Paper 1 and 1 hour and 15 minutes for Paper 2.