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LearnFire Education, Andrew Roden-Bow, and LearnFire Team

 This course will give them the skills they need to feel confident for their exams. Purchase this course to help your student prepare for their exams by helping them to understand chemistry, rather than focusing on trying to memorise seemingly unrelated facts.

Full syllabus coverage details are available in a downloadable file for iGCSE Cambridge/Edexcel/

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 This course will give them the skills they need to feel confident for their exams. Purchase this course to help your student prepare for their exams by helping them to understand chemistry, rather than focusing on trying to memorise seemingly unrelated facts.

Full syllabus coverage details are available in a downloadable file for iGCSE Cambridge/Edexcel/

This course covers all of the material studied in iGCSE Chemistry and GCSE Chemistry courses in the topics of Acids, bases and Salts, Reactions of Metals, Identification of Substances, and Energetics. These are normally the topics covered in (i)GCSE courses by schools in years 10+11 (Grade 9/10, ages 14/15/16). The material is also relevant for most GCSE courses. It is designed for students who are currently in years 10/11 (Grade 9/10, ages 14-16) and revising the material covered in their school lessons. It would also be useful for those students entering A level, or IBDP courses in chemistry who require a firm grounding before embarking on these more advanced qualifications. The material covered in this topic is also covered in most American and Canadian syllabuses in grade 10 chemistry/science (ages 15/16).

As soon as students sign up for this IGCSE Chemistry and GCSE Chemistry masterclass they will receive access to:

  1. NEW and updated IGCSE chem & GCSE chem video lessons for each section of the course.

  2. FREE digital IGCSE chem & GCSE worksheets to support learning

  3. FULL EXAM QUESTION 

  4. FREE topic-specific IGCSE chemistry past exam paper questions and mark schemes.

This IGCSE chemistry (O Level) masterclass is offered by IGCSEprep on Udemy. This masterclass covers all the content needed to write the IGCSE chemistry exams offered by Pearson Edexcel (double or triple) or Cambridge CIE (core or extended) or other exam boards like Oxford AQA.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • In this course students will learn exactly what they need to know for their chemistry exams so that they can learn as efficiently as possible.
  • Understand that metals can be placed in a reactivity series based on their reactivity with water and/or dilute acids
  • Understand how metals can be placed in order of reactivity based on the displacement reactions with metal oxides and aqueoues solutions of salts
  • Know the order of reactivity for common metals
  • Know the conditions under which iron rusts
  • Understand how the rusting of iron can be prevented
  • Describe the use of litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthalein to distinguish between acids, bases and neutral solutions
  • Understand how the use of the ph scale identifies a substance as a strong/weak acid/base
  • Describe the use of universal indicator to identify the ph of a solution
  • Know that acids produce h+ ions in solution whereas bases produce oh- ions
  • Know that bases can neutralise acids
  • Know how to carry out an acid/base titration
  • Know the solubility rules for common salts
  • Understand acid base reactions in terms of proton transfer
  • Understand that an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor
  • Describe the reactions of metals, metal oxides, and metal carbonantes with common dilute acids
  • Know that metal oxides, ammonia and metal hydroxides act as bases in solution and that alkalis are soluble bases
  • Describe an experiment to prepare a sample of a soluble salt, starting with a metal oxide or metal carbonate
  • Describe how to produce a sample of a soluble salt using titration
  • Describe how to produce a sample of an insoluble salt using a precipitation reaction
  • Describe the chemical tests for the identification of common gases
  • Describe how to carry out a flame test
  • Recall the flame colours of common ions
  • Describe the cation tests for ammonium, and metal ions using naoh
  • Describe the anion tests for halides, carbonate, and sulphate
  • Know that chemical reaction that release heat are exothermic, and the opposite are endothermic
  • Describe simple calorimetry experiments such as combustion, neutralisation, displacement, dissolving
  • Calculate the heat evolved in a reaction using q=mc(delta)t
  • Calculate the molar heat evolved in a reaction
  • Draw and explain enthalpy profiles for endothermic and exothermic reactions
  • Know that bond breaking is endothermic and bond making is exothermic
  • Use bond enthalpies to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction
  • Show more
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Syllabus

Introduction

An introduction on how to get the most out of this course. Please check the syllabus coverage document to see how relevant to your specification this course is.

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Students will learn how to identify which chemicals are acids, bases, and neutral. They will be able to identify the fundamental particles which make a substance an acid or base.

A quiz about identfying acids, bases and neutral chemicals

Students will be able to use the pH scale to identify substances as acid or bases. They will be able to describe the use of indicators linked to the pH of a substance.

Students will be able to decribe the process of neutralisation and link this to the reaction between H+ and OH- ions.

A quiz about neutralisation reactions

Students will be able to predict the solubility of ionic substances based on the solubility rules.

A quiz to see whether you have memorised the solubility rules.

Students will be able to describe the process of precipitation and identify how precipitation reactions are linked to the solubility of various ion pairs.

Students will be able to write ionic equations for simple reactions.

Students will be able to describe the process of producing a salt using a neutralisation reaction starting with an insoluble base.

Students will be able to describe the steps to perform a simple acid/base titration.

Students will be able to describe the use of a titration reaction to produce a sample of a soluble salt.

Questions about titrations

Students will be able to calculate the concentration of a substance using data from a titration experiment.

Students will be able to distinguish between strong and weak acids and describe how the degree of dissociation leads to their different properties.

Students will be able to describe the reactions of metals with oxygen and link the observations to the reactivity of metals.

Students will be able to describe the reactions of metals with water and link the observations to the reactivity of metals.

Students will be able to describe the reactions of metals with acids, and describe experiments used to show the reactivity of metals.

Students will be able to describe displacement reactions and how they can be used to identify the position of a metal in the reactivity series.

Quiz about the various reactions of metals

Students will be shown a variety of examination questions related to topics 5+6 and model answers will be discussed.

Students will be able to describe the use of chemical tests to  identify common gases.

Students will be able to describe the use of flame tests for the identification of cations.

Students will be able to describe the use of NaOH to identify metal ions, and ammonium.

Quiz about chemical tests for cations

Students will be able to describe the use of silver nitrate in the testing for halide ions.

Students will be able to describe the procedures for testing for sulphate and carbonate ions.

Quiz on the various anion tests

Students will review the use of all the ions tests in order to completely identify unknown ionic substances.

Quiz covering the combination of cation and anion tests in order to identify an ionic substance

Students will be able to describe exothermic and endothermic reactions in terms of enthalpy change and their effect on the surroundings.

Students will be able to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction using bond enthalpies.

Students will be able to describe simple energetics experiments and use the data obtained to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction.

Students will be able to describe experiments used to measure the enthalpy of combustion of a substance and use the data to calculate the experimental value.

Quiz questions related to reaction profiles for endothermic and exothermic reactions

Students will be shown examination questions and model answers will be discussed.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers exam-style questions and mark schemes, providing valuable practice for students preparing for standardized chemistry exams
Provides a foundation for students transitioning to more advanced chemistry courses like A-level or IBDP, ensuring they are well-prepared
Covers topics typically studied in years 10 and 11, aligning with the curriculum for students aged 14-16
Includes digital worksheets to support learning, offering students opportunities for practice and reinforcement of key concepts
Focuses on understanding chemistry concepts rather than rote memorization, promoting deeper learning and retention
Requires students to memorize solubility rules, which may be challenging for some learners who prefer conceptual understanding

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Reviews summary

Mastering chemistry fundamentals for exams (part 3)

According to learners, this course is a highly effective resource for mastering key chemistry topics needed for exams. Students frequently praise the instructor's clear explanations and ability to simplify complex concepts, making them easy to understand. The course structure, covering Acids, Bases & Salts, Metals, Identification, and Energetics, is well-received, and the inclusion of practice questions and exam materials is particularly helpful for exam preparation. Many find the video lessons engaging and the overall pace suitable. It's noted that this is Part 3 of a series, and while the vast majority report significant learning and improved confidence, some suggest having foundational knowledge or completing earlier parts is beneficial.
Course is Part 3 of 4.
"Just a note that this is Part 3 of the series."
"I recommend taking Parts 1 and 2 first if you are new to chemistry."
"This course builds on concepts from the earlier parts."
Content is organized logically.
"The topics flow logically and are well laid out."
"Each section builds nicely on the last, making it easy to follow the progression."
"The organization of the course content is excellent."
"A well-structured approach to complex chemistry topics."
Quizzes and exams aid understanding.
"The quizzes after each section really helped reinforce the concepts."
"Including past exam questions was incredibly useful for seeing how the material is tested."
"The practice problems were relevant and challenging enough to test my understanding."
"Good practice materials provided throughout the course."
Instructor makes complex topics simple.
"The explanations were really clear and easy to follow, making difficult concepts understandable."
"The instructor explained everything perfectly. Complex ideas were broken down well."
"I finally understood topics that confused me before because of the clear way they were presented."
"The video lessons are delivered very well, with concepts explained step-by-step."
Helps build confidence for chemistry exams.
"This course was perfect for my iGCSE revision. It covered exactly what I needed."
"The practice questions and exam materials helped me a lot for my chemistry test."
"I feel much more confident about these topics for my upcoming exam after taking this course."
"A great resource for solidifying knowledge specifically for exam purposes."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Master The Fundamentals Of Chemistry (Part 3 of 4) with these activities:
Review Chemical Nomenclature
Reinforce your understanding of chemical nomenclature to better understand the formulas and names of the compounds discussed in the course.
Browse courses on Chemical Nomenclature
Show steps
  • Review the rules for naming ionic and covalent compounds.
  • Practice naming compounds from their formulas and vice versa.
  • Take a practice quiz on chemical nomenclature.
Read 'General Chemistry' by Darrell Ebbing
Deepen your understanding of general chemistry principles with a comprehensive textbook.
View General Chemistry on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to acids, bases, salts, and energetics.
  • Work through the example problems in the book.
  • Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Read 'Chemistry: The Central Science'
Supplement your understanding of core chemistry concepts with a comprehensive textbook.
View Chemistry on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to acids, bases, salts, and energetics.
  • Work through the example problems in the book.
  • Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Acid-Base Titration Calculations
Sharpen your skills in performing acid-base titration calculations, a crucial aspect of quantitative chemistry.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with titration calculation problems.
  • Work through a variety of problems, focusing on different scenarios.
  • Check your answers and review the steps for each calculation.
Create a Reactivity Series Infographic
Visualize the reactivity series of metals to better understand their reactions with water, acids, and other metal compounds.
Show steps
  • Research the reactivity series of common metals.
  • Design an infographic that visually represents the series.
  • Include examples of reactions for each metal.
Create a Presentation on Enthalpy Changes
Solidify your understanding of enthalpy changes by creating a presentation explaining endothermic and exothermic reactions.
Show steps
  • Research endothermic and exothermic reactions and enthalpy changes.
  • Create a presentation with clear explanations and visuals.
  • Practice presenting the material to a friend or family member.
Create a Compilation of Chemical Tests
Organize and compile information on various chemical tests for identifying ions and gases.
Show steps
  • Gather information on cation and anion tests from various sources.
  • Organize the information into a comprehensive guide.
  • Include procedures, observations, and expected results.

Career center

Learners who complete Master The Fundamentals Of Chemistry (Part 3 of 4) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Chemistry Teacher
A Chemistry Teacher educates students on the principles of chemistry, often in a classroom setting. This course will be particularly helpful for those aiming to teach at the secondary level, as it covers topics such as acids, bases, salts, metal reactions, substance identification, and energetics. The course's focus on exam preparation, specifically for iGCSE and GCSE curricula, is very useful for aspiring teachers who will need to understand how to teach and assess these concepts. The learning objectives of this course will translate well to helping students learn the same topics. A prospective chemistry teacher will find that the comprehensive coverage of core topics in this course provides them with the knowledge base to begin instruction.
Laboratory Technician
A Laboratory Technician performs tests and experiments in a laboratory, often following specific procedures. This course helps build a foundation in experimental work through its coverage of identification of substances using chemical tests and reactions, including titrations, flame tests, and reactions involving metal ions. The course emphasizes practical skills in areas such as acids and bases, metal reactivity, and testing for gases and ions which provides a solid starting point. This course is especially valuable for those seeking expertise in sample preparation and analysis using various laboratory techniques. A future laboratory technician should find this course's focus on hands-on techniques and analysis to be pertinent to the role.
Science Tutor
A Science Tutor provides individualized instruction to students, often focusing on specific topics or exam preparation. This course will provide a strong foundation in core high school chemistry topics such as acids, bases, energetics, and reaction chemistry. The comprehensive nature of the syllabus, particularly the emphasis on exam questions, will help a prospective science tutor effectively guide students through their coursework. A focus on ensuring students understand core concepts, rather than memorizing facts, is useful for future tutors. Those who want to tutor high school chemistry students will find that this course helps build the necessary background knowledge.
Curriculum Developer
A Curriculum Developer designs and creates educational materials, such as lesson plans and textbooks. This course, with its focus on core topics in chemistry, helps build a strong foundation that is important to designing a chemistry curriculum, especially for the iGCSE and GCSE levels. The course's detailed syllabus, which covers areas such as acids, bases, salts, metal reactivity, and energetics, will be beneficial for developing comprehensive and effective learning materials. Those who wish to create chemistry curricula will be aided by the course's clear structure, as well as its learning objectives and syllabus.
Science Writer
Science Writers create content that communicates scientific information to a general audience. This course may be useful as it helps build a basic understanding of chemistry principles, especially related to acids, bases, metals, and reactions. The course material, which covers a range of topics including substance identification and energetics, helps build technical knowledge that can be synthesized into clear, concise language. While this role typically requires a bachelor's degree, the course material can help build scientific literacy. A future science writer may find the background knowledge gained from this course useful in contextualizing their work.
Chemical Sales Representative
A Chemical Sales Representative sells chemical products to various clients, requiring a deep understanding of their properties. This course may help them build a basic understanding of chemical properties, such as how acids, bases, metals, and salts react. The course touches upon reactions and substance identification, which are important for understanding how and why products are used. While a bachelor's degree or experience may be required for this role, the course content will be supplemental for anyone looking to enter the field of chemical sales. This course may be helpful for a chemical sales representative to gain a more thorough knowledge of the fundamental chemistry that is relevant to sales.
Environmental Technician
An Environmental Technician performs tests and monitoring tasks to ensure environmental safety and regulatory compliance. This course may be helpful by providing a background in basic chemistry principles, such as the properties of acids, bases, salts, and metal reactions. The course's focus on chemical identification and analysis can help them better understand the nature of environmental pollutants and their impact on the environment. While this role might require an associate's or bachelor's degree, the course curriculum can help build a foundation for the work that these professionals perform. This course's focus on practical application may be useful to an environmental technician.
Science Communicator
A Science Communicator translates scientific concepts for public consumption through various media such as presentations, articles, and videos. This course may be useful given its comprehensive overview of core chemistry concepts such as acids, bases, energetics, and reactions. The course material gives a basis of understanding for a science communicator who seeks clarity in explaining chemistry to others. While additional coursework in communication is usually needed, the course’s coverage may be helpful for any science communicator. A prospective science communicator may be particularly interested in the course's approach to teaching chemistry.
Medical Laboratory Assistant
A Medical Laboratory Assistant works in a clinical laboratory, preparing samples and assisting with tests. This course may be useful for a medical laboratory assistant because it introduces foundational chemistry concepts including acids, bases, and salt reactions, as well as various chemical tests. While specific training for laboratory procedures is required, the course material that covers chemical reactions may be relevant for this work. The course's emphasis on accurate experimental techniques could help with precision in the laboratory. A prospective medical laboratory assistant may find this course useful as a basis for understanding procedures in a clinical lab.
Materials Scientist
A Materials Scientist researches and develops new materials with specific properties. This course may be useful as it covers basic chemical reactions, energetics, and metal reactivity. The foundational concepts taught in the course could act as a stepping stone to more advanced material science coursework. Although this role typically requires advanced degrees, the course content can be useful for foundational knowledge. A prospective materials scientist may find this course a helpful starting point for a career in material science.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
A Pharmaceutical Sales Representative promotes and sells pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals. This course may be useful for building a foundational understanding of chemical substances, as it covers properties and reactions of acids, bases, and salts, as well as energetics and metal reactions. While this role usually requires specific knowledge of pharmaceuticals, the course could help build a basic understanding of the chemistry that underpins many pharmaceuticals. This course may help a pharmaceutical sales representative develop a basic understanding of the chemistry of the products that they are selling.
Food Scientist
A Food Scientist researches and develops new food products and processes. This course may be useful for a food scientist because it introduces fundamental aspects of chemistry like acids, bases, salts, and chemical reactions. Although this role typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree, this course can help some understand the chemical processes that are involved in many foods. The course's study of energetics and chemical identification may be supplemental for those seeking to enter the food science field. A prospective food scientist may find this course to be a useful introduction to the science behind food production.
Science Museum Educator
A Science Museum Educator designs and leads educational programs for museum visitors. This course may be helpful for a museum educator as it provides an overview of chemistry concepts, which may be useful when explaining exhibits to the public. While public speaking skills are most important, the course covers topics such as acids, bases, energetics, and reactions, which may be a beneficial background. A prospective museum educator will also be able to use the course's approach to teaching chemistry as a model for explaining complicated topics. Because of this, the course may be useful.
Agricultural Technician
An Agricultural Technician supports farming operations with technical knowledge and skills. This course may be useful for an agricultural technician because it introduces basic chemistry principles, such as the properties and reactions of acids, bases, and salts. The course's coverage of metal reactivity and chemical identification could be supplemental, especially in the context of soil analysis. While this role usually requires specific agricultural knowledge, the course provides a base understanding of chemical processes. This course may be a useful introduction to the chemical composition of soil and the reactions that take place within it.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products or processes. This course may be useful for a technical writer as it offers a basic overview of chemistry. While this role may not require a chemistry background, understanding concepts such as chemical reactions, acids, bases and salts may help when it comes time to document a chemical process. The course's approach of teaching technical ideas in a clear fashion could also apply to writing. This course may serve as a helpful guide to understanding a limited scope of chemistry.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Master The Fundamentals Of Chemistry (Part 3 of 4).
Widely used introductory chemistry textbook. It provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental chemistry concepts, including acids, bases, salts, reactions, and energetics. It valuable reference for students seeking a deeper understanding of the material covered in the course and is commonly used in academic institutions.
Comprehensive general chemistry textbook that covers a wide range of topics, including acids, bases, salts, and energetics. It provides a solid foundation in chemistry principles and is suitable for students who want to deepen their understanding of the subject. It useful reference tool for students who want to review the material covered in the course.

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