Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
Year 12 Chemistry
Welcome to the start of your chemistry A-level journey. The next two years will be
both challenging and rewarding. Provided you are willing to put in the effort, you will
even have fun! Year 12 is a huge step up from GCSE, not only academically in terms
of the content covered, but also the amount of work. It is achievable, provided you keep
on top of the work.
You will be expected to work hard in lessons. You will be expected to work even
harder outside of lessons. Typically we suggest that for every one hour lesson, you
do an extra 1 hour of self-directed learning. With 9 hours of timetabled lessons a
fortnight, you should expect to devote a minimum of 18 hours a fortnight to
Chemistry. Success requires on good time and workload management and whilst
you will be helped with this along the way, ultimately it is your responsibility.
The chemistry teachers are:


Mr Carter (TCR) - Lab S11 – [email protected]
Miss Davis (SDV) - Lab S9 – [email protected]
Remember that support is always available. You must ask for help, don’t sit and
struggle quietly. We are very approachable and always happy to see you between
lessons. If not, drop us an email.
The course specification we use is: OCR Chemistry A
We look forward to meeting you in September.
Mr Carter and Miss Davis
Summer Subject Enhancement Project
To give you a head start we have set an assignment that is to be competed
throughout the summer holidays. Firstly, it will help enhance your chemistry
knowledge in preparation for Year 12. Secondly, it will help you prove to us that you
are academically capable, able to work independently and willing to put in the high
level of effort that is expected. Please bring the completed assignment along to your
first chemistry lesson. If you are unsure of what we asking, please email Mr Carter
([email protected]).
This pack contains all the task instructions. It also contains a suggested book list.
You will be given a course textbook on enrolment. Whilst the books on the list are
not essential, they come with great recommendation from previous students. They
are exam board specific and would be a great support tool to use alongside the
textbook during self-directed learning.
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
The assignment tasks are as follows:
1. Read the attached learning contract. Please sign it, get your parents/guardian
to sign it, and return it with your assignment during the first lesson.
2. Create a revision guide on The Foundations to AS Chemistry. Details are on
the following pages.
3. This is the exact exam paper that you will sit over the course of the first two
weeks at sixth form. It is up to you how much preparation you put in, but your
results in this exam will help inform our assumptions of your academic ability.
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
Task 1: Complete Learning Contract
AS/A2 Chemistry – Learning contract
Student Name:_______________________
Homework policy
Students will be set a minimum of 1 hour homework for each hour of directed
learning. A record will be kept of any missed deadlines or partially completed
work. This will allow teaching staff to monitor the student’s independent
commitment to their learning.
Students will be required to use the calendar of learning provided to read the
relevant pages of the textbook before attending the lesson. This will include
completing the summary questions at the end of each double page.
Assessment
Students will receive regular assessment. These will consist of questions taken
from past exam papers. They will be given at the end of each sub-topic and
marks will be recorded. The results will be analysed to identify areas requiring
additional targeted learning and revision.
Students will be asked to take a test in timed, exam conditions at least once
every half term
Revision
Lesson time will be allocated to revision of key content and exam techniques. At
exam time, homework’s will be given over to revision materials and past paper
questions. Teachers will review each other’s modules to ensure a range of
teaching strategies.
Signed:
_____________________ Chemistry department
_____________________ Student
______________________ Parent/Guardian
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
Task 2: Revision guide on Foundations to AS Chemistry
You are to produce a revision guide on The Foundations to AS Chemistry. The
format to the revision guide is up to you; however, you must be able to hand in a
high quality piece of work on the first day. ChemGuide
(http://www.chemguide.co.uk/) is a very useful resource. Also take a look at the
suggested Book List in this pack. Your guide should cover the topics below. Your
work should be able to answer the related questions:
1. The structure of the Atom
a. What is the structure of an atom?
b. What is the relative charge and mass of each sub-atomic particle?
c. What is the difference between Atomic Number and Mass Number?
d. What are Isotopes?
e. Why is the Relative Atomic Mass for chlorine not a whole number?
f. How do you calculate Relative Formula Mass?
g. What the mole?
h. What equations links the number of moles; mass of a substance; and
Relative Atomic Mass?
i. How are electrons arranged in an atom?
2. Chemical Bonds: Ionic and Covalent Structures
a. What is ionic bonding?
b. How are ionic compounds formed?
c. What are the physical properties of ionic structures?
d. What is covalent bonding?
e. How are covalent compounds formed?
f. What are the physical properties of simple covalent and giant covalent
structures?
g. What are Groups and Periods in the Periodic Table?
3. Hydrocarbon Molecules
a. What are Hydrocarbons?
b. What is fractional distillation?
c. What happens with the combustion of hydrocarbons?
d. What are alkanes?
e. What are alkenes?
f. What is polymerisation?
g. What is cracking?
4. Rates of Reaction
a. What is meant by Rate of Reaction?
b. How can we measure the rate of a reaction?
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
c. What effects the rate of a reaction?
5. Reversible Reactions
a. What is a reversible reaction?
b. What is equilibrium?
c. What is meant by Yield, and how can it be changed in a reversible
reaction?
6. Symbol Equations
a. How do you balance a chemical equation?
7. Calculating Formulae
a. What is the difference between empirical formula and molecular
formula?
b. How do you calculate empirical formulae?
8. Reactivity and The Periodic Table
a. How are elements arranged in the periodic table?
b. What are the trends in reactivity and properties in the Period Table
(especially groups I, II, VII)?
9. Chemical Reactions
a. What is Addition?
b. What is Dehydration?
c. What is Displacement?
d. What is Disproportionation?
e. What is Addition?
f. What is Hydrogenation?
g. What is Neutralisation?
h. What is Oxidation?
i. What is Reduction?
j. What is REDOX?
k. What is Precipitation?
l. What is Substitution?
m. What is Thermal Decomposition?
10. Energy and Chemistry
a. What is an exothermic reaction?
b. What is an endothermic reaction?
c. How do they relate to breaking & making bonds?
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
Suggested Book List
You will be given a course textbook on enrolment. Whilst the books on the list are
not essential, they come with great recommendation from previous students. They
are exam board specific and would be a great support tool to use alongside the
textbook during self-directed learning.
Calculations in AS / A
Level Chemistry
Jim Clark
Publisher:
Longman
ISBN-13: 9780582411272
Head Start to AS
Chemistry
Richard
Parsons
Publisher:
CGP
ISBN-13: 9781847621160
AS Level Chemistry for
OCR A: Student Book
Richard
Parsons
Publisher:
CGP
ISBN-13: 9781847627933
A2 Level Chemistry for
OCR A: Student Book
Richard
Parsons
Publisher:
CGP
ISBN-13: 9781847627940
AS-Level Chemistry
OCR A Complete
Revision & Practice
Richard
Parsons
Publisher:
CGP
ISBN-13: 9781847621269
A2-Level Chemistry
OCR A Complete
Revision & Practice
Richard
Parsons
Publisher:
CGP
ISBN-13: 9781847622679
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
Task 3: Exam Paper Preparation
This is the exact exam paper that you will sit over the course of the first two weeks at
sixth form. It is up to you how much preparation you put in, but your results in this
exam will help inform our assumptions of your academic ability.
(Periodic table included at the end)
1.
(a)
The diagrams represent the atomic structures of two gases, hydrogen and helium.
x = an electron
p = a proton
n = a neutron
2p
2n
hydrogen
helium
Hydrogen gas is made up of diatomic molecules (molecules with two atoms).
Helium gas exists as single atoms.
(i)
How is a molecule of hydrogen formed from two hydrogen atoms?
(You may use a diagram as part of your answer)
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
(2)
(ii)
Why does helium exist only as single atoms?
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
(2)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(b)
Hydrogen combines with carbon to form methane.
Each molecule contains four hydrogen atoms strongly bonded to a carbon atom.
methane molecules
H
H
H
H
H
C
H
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
structural formula
of methane CH 4
C
H
H
C
H
H
H
Explain why methane has a low boiling point.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
2.
In 1999 scientists at the University of Berkeley claimed to have discovered the element
Ununhexium.
The electron arrangement of this element is thought to be as shown in the diagram below.
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(a)
Which group of the periodic table should this element be placed in?
Group .............................
(1)
(b)
Give a reason for your answer.
..........................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 2 marks)
3.
The diagram shows part of the ionic lattice of a sodium chloride crystal.
(i)
Complete the spaces in the table to give information about both of the ions
in this lattice.
Name of ion
Charge
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
(2)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(ii)
When it is solid, sodium chloride will not conduct electricity. However,
molten sodium chloride will conduct electricity. Explain this difference.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii)
Complete the sentence.
Sodium chloride conducts electricity when it is molten and when it is
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
The symbol for a calcium atom can be shown like this:
40
Ca
20
(i)
What is the mass number of this atom?
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
What information is given by the mass number?
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(c)
Calcium burns in oxygen with a brick-red flame. The product is a white solid. It is
calcium oxide and its formula is CaO.
(i)
Balance the chemical equation for the reaction.
Ca(s) +
O2(g) 
CaO(s)
(1)
(ii)
Describe, in terms of electrons, what happens to a calcium atom when it
becomes a calcium ion.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)
4.
(a)
Copper is a metal.
Explain how it conducts electricity.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(b)
Graphite is a non-metal.
Use the information to explain why graphite conducts electricity.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
5.
Distress flares are used to attract attention in an emergency.
Flares often contain the element magnesium. Magnesium burns to form magnesium
oxide.
(a)
The distress flare burns with a bright flame because the reaction is very
exothermic.
State the meaning of exothermic.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction between magnesium (Mg) and
oxygen (O2) to form magnesium oxide (MgO).
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(c)
The diagram shows the electronic structure of a magnesium atom.
The atomic (proton) number of magnesium is 12.
Magnesium atom
Draw a similar diagram to show the electronic structure of an oxygen atom.
The atomic (proton) number of oxygen is 8.
(1)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(d)
Magnesium ions and oxide ions are formed when magnesium reacts with oxygen.
The diagram shows the electronic structure of an oxide ion.
Oxide ion
Draw a similar diagram to show the electronic structure of a magnesium ion.
(1)
(e)
Magnesium oxide is a white solid with a high melting point.
Explain how the ions are held together in solid magnesium oxide.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(f)
Indigestion tablets can be made from magnesium oxide. The magnesium oxide
neutralises some of the hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Complete the word equation for the reaction between magnesium oxide and
hydrochloric acid.
hydrochloric acid 
magnesium oxide

......................

water.
(1)
(Total 7 marks)
6.
Crude oil is a mixture of mostly alkanes.
(a)
Crude oil is separated into useful fractions by fractional distillation.
(i)
Describe and explain how the mixture of alkanes is separated by fractional
distillation.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(3)
(ii)
The table gives the name and formula for each of the first three alkanes.
Complete the table to show the formula of butane.
Name of alkane
Formula
Methane
CH4
Ethane
C2H6
Propane
C3H8
Butane
(1)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(b)
The structural formula of methane, CH4, is:
H

HCH

H
Draw the structural formula of propane, C3H8
(1)
(c)
The relative amounts of and the market demand for some hydrocarbons from the
fractional distillation of crude oil are shown in the graph.
(i)
Why is the market demand for the C5 – C8 fraction higher than the market
demand for the C21 – C24 fraction?
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(ii)
Cracking is used to break down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller
hydrocarbon molecules.
Complete the symbol equation by writing in the formula of the other
hydrocarbon.
C20H42
C16H34

2 ..........................................
(1)
(iii)
The C5 – C8 fraction has low supply and high market demand.
Suggest three ways in which the oil industry could overcome this problem.
1 .........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
3 .......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 10 marks)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
7.
(a)
The diagram shows the electronic structure of a particular element.
x
x
x
x
In a similar way, show the electronic structure of another element from the same
group in the periodic table and name the element you select.
Name of element selected ..........................................................................................
(4)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(b)
The element lithium gives a moderate reaction with cold water, releasing hydrogen
and forming a solution of lithium hydroxide.
Describe how sodium is similar to and how it is different from lithium in its
chemical reaction with cold water.
Explain any similarity or difference in terms of their atomic structure.
Similarity. ..................................................................................................................
Reason. ......................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
Difference. .................................................................................................................
Reason. ......................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(5)
(Total 9 marks)
8.
Ammonia is produced by the Haber process. In the process nitrogen and hydrogen are
mixed. The pressure is increased to about 200 atmospheres. The gases are passed over
an iron catalyst at about 450°C. The equation for the reaction is:
N2(g)
+
3H2(g)
2NH3(g)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
The reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen is reversible. This affects the amount of
ammonia that it is possible to obtain from the process. The graph below shows how the
pressure and temperature affect the percentage of ammonia that can be produced.
80
350ºC
70
400ºC
60
450ºC
50
%
ammonia 40
produced
30
500ºC
550ºC
20
10
0
100
200
300
pressure (atm)
400
Use this information, together with your knowledge of the process, to explain why many
industrial ammonia plants operate at 200 atmospheres and 450°C.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 5 marks)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
9.
The monomer chloroethene is made from ethene in a two-stage process,
(a)
The first stage is to convert ethene to 1,2-dichloroethane.
2C2H4(g) + 4HC1(g) + O2(g)
ethene
2C2H4Cl2(g) + 2H2O(g)
1,2-dichloroethane
State and explain the effect of increasing the pressure on:
(i)
the yield of 1,2-dichloroethane;
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
(2)
(ii)
the rate of reaction.
..........................................................................................................................
.
..........................................................................................................................
.
(2)
(b)
In the second stage 1,2-dichloroethane is converted into chloroethene.
C2H4C12  C2H3C1 + HCl
This reaction is a thermal decomposition.
Suggest what would need to be done to decompose 1,2-dichloroethane.
.....................................................................................................................................
.
.....................................................................................................................................
.
(1)
(Total 5 marks)
10.
Methanol (CH3OH) can be made by reacting methane (CH4) and oxygen (O2) in the
presence of a platinum catalyst. The reaction is exothermic.
An equation that represents the reaction is:
2CH4 + O2
 2CH3OH
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(a)
The energy level diagram for this reaction is given below.
Energy
2CH 4 + O2
2CH 3 OH
(i)
Use the diagram to explain how you know that this reaction is exothermic.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
Explain, in terms of the energy level diagram, how the platinum catalyst
increases the rate of this reaction.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
The equation can also be written showing the structural formulae of the reactants
and the product.
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
(i)
Use the bond energies given in the table to help you to calculate the energy
change for this reaction.
Bond
Bond energy in kJ
C –– H
435
=O
498
C –– O
805
O –– H
464
O
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Energy change = ...................................... kJ
(3)
(ii)
In terms of the bond energies, explain why this reaction is exothermic.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)
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Year 12 Summer Chemistry Knowledge Enhancement Project
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