IB Chemistry: Overview, Syllabus & Resources for Success
Topics/Projects|SL hours|HL Hours
| Structure 1. Models of the particulate nature of matter | 17 | 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure 2. Models of bonding and structure | 20 | 30 |
| Structure 3. Classification of matter | 16 | 31 |
| Reactivity 1. What drives chemical reactions? | 12 | 22 |
| Reactivity 2. How much, how fast and how far? | 21 | 31 |
| Reactivity 3. What are the mechanisms of chemical change? | 24 | 45 |
| Practical work | 20 | 40 |
| Collaborative sciences project | 10 | 10 |
| Scientific investigation | 10 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 110 | 180 |
Subtopics|Description & Key Learnings
| Introduction to the particulate nature of matter | Covers the basic idea that matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles, and introduces students to the concept of the particle model of matter. |
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| The nuclear atom | Delves into the structure of the atom, including the nucleus, protons, neutrons, and electrons, as well as isotopes and the concept of atomic number. |
| Electron configurations | Explores the arrangement of electrons in atoms and ions, including the use of electron configurations and orbital diagrams. |
| Counting particles by mass: The mole | Covers the concept of the mole, a unit used to count particles such as atoms and molecules, and how to calculate the number of particles in a given sample. |
| Ideal gases | Explores the behavior of ideal gases, including the gas laws, gas pressure, temperature, and volume, and how these variables are related. |
Subtopics|Description
| The ionic model | Covers the ionic bond, which is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another to form ions. It also covers the properties of ionic compounds, such as their high melting and boiling points, and their solubility in water. |
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| The covalent model | Explores the covalent bond, which is formed when atoms share electrons. It includes the different types of covalent bonds, such as polar and nonpolar, and covers the properties of covalent compounds, such as their low melting and boiling points. |
| Energy from fuels | Covers the energy released from combustion reactions of fuels, and the calculation of the heat of combustion of a fuel from enthalpy data. It includes the analysis of the efficiency of energy transfer in power stations and engines, and the environmental impact of using fossil fuels. |
| Entropy and spontaneity (Additional higher level) | Delves into the concept of entropy, which is a measure of the degree of disorder or randomness in a system, and its relationship to spontaneity in chemical reactions. It includes the calculation of entropy changes in chemical reactions, and the use of Gibbs free energy to predict the direction and spontaneity of reactions. |
Subtopics|Description
| How much? The amount of chemical change | Covers the quantitative aspects of chemical reactions, including the stoichiometry of reactions, the calculation of reactant and product amounts, and the use of limiting and excess reactants. It also includes the use of titration techniques to determine the concentration of a solution. |
|---|---|
| How fast? The rate of chemical change | Explores the study of reaction rates, including the use of experimental techniques to measure reaction rates and the factors that affect them, such as temperature, concentration, and catalysts. It also includes the application of collision theory and transition state theory to explain the kinetics of chemical reactions. |
| How far? The extent of chemical change | Covers the concept of chemical equilibrium, which is the point in a reversible reaction where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction. It includes the calculation of equilibrium constants and the use of Le Chatelier’s principle to predict the effect of changes in temperature, pressure, and concentration on the position of equilibrium. |
Subtopics|Description
| Proton transfer reactions | Focusing on reactions that involve the transfer of protons from one species to another. It covers the concepts of acids and bases, as well as acid-base equilibria and pH. |
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| Electron transfer reactions | This topic deals with reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from one species to another. It covers redox reactions, oxidation numbers, and the use of half-equations to balance redox reactions. |
| Electron sharing reactions | Focusing on reactions that involve the sharing of electrons between atoms. It covers the different types of covalent bonds, such as polar and nonpolar, and the properties of covalent compounds. |
