GCSE Chemistry Summary of changes

Summary of changes

This resource outlines the main changes that have been made to the assessment and subject content from our previous GCSE Chemistry (4402) to the new specification (8462).

Our new specifications have been developed in line with the regulatory requirements provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual.

4.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table

4.1.1 A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass,

electronic charge and isotopes

Section

Previous GCSE Chemistry

What’s changed

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3

4.1.1.1 Atoms, elements and compounds

C1.1.1a, b Atoms

C1.1.3b Chemical reactions

C2.1.1a Structure and bonding

4.1.1.2 Mixtures C1.4.1b Crude oil

New: more methods of separation of mixtures.

4.1.1.3 Scientific models of the atom (common content with physics)

New topic.

4.1.1.4 Relative electrical charges of subatomic particles (common content with physics)

C1.1.1c, d, e, f, g Atoms

4.1.1.5 Size and mass of atoms (common content with physics)

C2.3.1a, b, c, d Atomic structure

New: relative dimension of nuclear radius compared to the whole atom.

4.1.1.6 Electronic structure (common content with physics)

C1.1.1h Atoms

4.1.2 The periodic table

Section


What’s changed


4.1.2.1 The periodic table

C1.1.2a The periodic table

C3.1.1a The early periodic table

C3.1.2a The modern periodic table

4.1.2.2 Development of the periodic table

C3.1.1a, b The early periodic table

New: isotopes.

4.1.2.3 Metals and non-metals

C1.1.3a Chemical reactions

New: metals and non-metals.

4.1.2.4 Group 0 C1.1.2b The periodic table

New: boiling points of noble gases.

4.1.2.5 Group 1 C2.1.1d Structure and bonding

C3.1.3a, b Trends within the periodic table

New: reason for increase in reactivity down group.

4.1.2.6 Group 7 C2.1.1e

Structure

and

bonding

C3.1.3e, f, g, h Trends within the periodic table

New:

properties of Group 7 elements

trends down group.

N/A C3.1.2b The modern periodic table

This content is no longer present in the new specification.

4.1.3 Properties of transition metals (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.1.3.1 Comparison with Group 1 elements

C3.1.3c Trends within the periodic table

4.1.3.2 Typical properties

C3.1.3d Trends within the periodic table

4.2 Bonding, structure and the properties of matter

4.2.1 Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic

Section


What’s changed


4.2.1.1 Chemical bonds

C2.1.1b Chemical bonding

New: details on bonding.

4.2.1.2 Ionic bonding

C2.1.1c Structure and bonding

New:

direct reference to metal and non-metal atoms

dot and cross representation of ionic compounds

relating charge on ion to group number.

4.2.1.3 Ionic compounds

C2.1.1f Structure and bonding

New: models of sodium chloride structure

4.2.1.4 Covalent bonding

C1.5.2a Polymers

C2.1 Structure and bonding (introduction)

New:

very large molecules

3-D model of

C2.1.1g Structure and bonding

bonding.

4.2.1.5 Metallic bonding

C2.1 Structure and bonding (introduction)

C2.1.1h, i Structure and bonding

This content is no longer Higher Tier only.

4.2.2 How bonding and structure are related to the properties of

substances

Section


What’s changed


4.2.2.1 The three states of matter

New topic.

Some content is Higher Tier only.

4.2.2.2 State symbols

C2.6.1a Making salts

Reworded to clarify.

4.2.2.3 Properties of ionic compounds

C2.2.2a, b Ionic compounds

4.2.2.4 Properties of small molecules

C2.2.1a, b, c Molecules

New:

strength of intermolecular forces

size of molecules.


4.2.2.5 Polymers New topic.

4.2.2.6 Giant covalent structures

C2.2.3a Covalent structures

New: general properties of giant covalent structures.

4.2.2.7 Properties of metals and alloys

C1.3.2c Alloys

C2.2.4b, c Metals

New: metals as giant structures.

4.2.2.8 Metals as conductors

C2.2.4a Metals

New: explanation of why metals conduct thermal energy.


N/A C1.3.2a Alloys

C1.3.3a, b Properties and uses of metals


4.2.3 Structure and bonding of carbon

Section


What’s changed


4.2.3.1 Diamond C2.2.3b Covalent structures

New: extra properties of diamond.

4.2.3.2 Graphite C2.2.3c, d Covalent structures

New properties of graphite:

covalent bonds

hexagonal rings

high melting point.


4.2.3.3 Graphene and fullerenes

C2.2.3e Covalent structures

New:

graphene

structure of fullerenes

properties of carbon nanotubes.


4.2.4 Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles

(chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.2.4.1 Sizes of particles and their properties

C2.2.6a Nanoscience

New:

size of particulates other than nanoparticles

surface area to volume ratios

comparison of properties with bulk materials.

4.2.4.2 Uses of nanoparticles

New topic.

4.3 Quantitative chemistry

4.3.1 Conservation of mass and the quantitative interpretation of

chemical equations

Section


What’s changed


4.3.1.1 Conservation of mass and balanced chemical equations

C1.1.3b, c Chemical reactions

New: balancing symbol reactions.

4.3.1.2 Relative formula mass

C2.3.1f Atomic structure

New: sum of formula masses in balanced chemical equations.

4.3.1.3 Mass changes when a reactant or product is a gas

New topic.

4.3.2 Use of amount of substance in relation to masses of pure

substances

Section


What’s changed


4.3.2.1 Moles C2.3.1g Atomic structure

New:

symbol for mole

Avogadro constant

use of relative formula mass to calculate number of moles.

This content is Higher Tier only.

4.3.2.2 Amounts of substances in equations

New topic.


4.3.2.3 Using moles to balance equations

New topic.


4.3.2.4 Limiting reactants

New topic.


4.3.2.5 Concentration of solutions

New topic.


4.3.3 Yield and atom economy of chemical reactions (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.3.3.1 Percentage yield

C2.3.3d, e Quantitative chemistry

New: formula for calculation of percentage yield.

4.3.3.2 Atom economy

C2.3.3a Quantitative chemistry

New: formula for calculating percentage atom economy.

N/A C2.3.3b, c Quantitative chemistry


4.3.4 Using concentrations of solutions in mol/dm3 (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.3.4 Using concentrations of solutions in mol/dm3 (chemistry only)

C3.4.1g, h Analysing substances

New:

measuring concentration

calculation of amount of moles of solute.


4.3.5 Use of amount of substance in relation to volumes of gases

(chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.3.5 Use of amount of substance in relation to volumes of gases (chemistry only)

New topic.


4.4 Chemical changes

4.4.1 Reactivity of metals

Section Previous GCSE Chemistry What’s changed


4.4.1.1 Metal oxides New topic.

4.4.1.2 The reactivity series

New topic.

4.4.1.3 Extraction of metals and reduction

C1.3.1c, d Extracting metals

New: definition of reduction.

4.4.1.4 Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons

C2.7.1e Electrolysis


N/A C1.3.1a, b, e, f, I, j Extracting metals


4.4.2 Reactions of acids

Section


What’s changed


4.4.2.1 Reactions of acids with metals

New topic.


4.4.2.2 Neutralisation of acids and salt production

C2.6.2a, b Acids and bases

New: more detail on neutralisation.

4.4.2.3 Soluble salts C2.6.1c Making salts

New: method of production of salts.

4.4.2.4 The pH scale and neutralisation

C2.6.2d,e Acids and bases

New: pH scale.

4.4.2.5 Strong and weak acids

New topic.


N/A C2.6.1d Making

This content is no longer present in the new

salts specification.

4.4.3 Electrolysis

Section


What’s changed


4.4.3.1 The process of electrolysis

C2.7.1a, b, c Electrolysis

New: definition of electrolyte.


4.4.3.2 Electrolysis of molten ionic compounds

New topic.

4.4.3.3 Using electrolysis to extract metals

C2.7.1h Electrolysis

New:

extraction from molten compounds

reason for extraction by electrolysis

energy requirements of electrolysis.

4.4.3.4 Electrolysis of aqueous solutions

New topic.

4.4.3.5 Representation of reactions at electrodes as half equations

C2.7.1e, g Electrolysis

New:

definitions of reduction and oxidation

further examples of half equations.


N/A C2.7.1d, f, I Electrolysis


4.5 Energy changes

4.5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions

Section


What’s changed


4.5.1.1 Energy transfer during exothermic and endothermic reactions

C2.5.1a, b, c Energy transfer in chemical reactions

New:

conservation of energy

further examples of use of endothermic reactions.

4.5.1.2 Reaction profiles

C3.3.1d Energy from reactions

New: definition of activation energy.

4.5.1.3 The energy change of reactions

C3.3.1e, f, g Energy from reactions

New: clarification on calculations from bond energies.


N/A C3.3.1a, b, c, i Energy from reactions


4.5.2 Chemical cells and fuel cells (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.5.2.1 Cells and batteries

New topic.

4.5.2.2 Fuel cells New topic.


4.6 The rate and extent of chemical change

4.6.1 Rate of reaction

Section


What’s changed


4.6.1.1 Calculating rates of reactions

C2.4.1a Rates of reaction

New:

measurement of quantity of reactant

units.

Some content is Higher Tier only

4.6.1.2 Factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions

C2.4.1c, d, e, f Rates of reaction

4.6.1.3 Collision theory and activation energy

C2.4.1b Rates of reaction

New: explanation of collision theory.

4.6.1.4 Factors that increase the rate of reaction

C2.4.1c, e Rates of reaction

4.6.1.5 Catalysts C2.4.1g Rates of reaction

C3.3.1h Energy from reactions

New:

enzymes as biological catalysts

drawing reaction profiles for catalysed reactions.

4.6.2 Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium

Section


What’s changed


4.6.2.1 Reversible reactions

C2.3.3f Quantitative chemistry

4.6.2.2 Energy changes and reversible reactions

C2.5.1d Energy transfer in chemical reactions

4.6.2.3 Equilibrium C3.5.1c Making ammonia


4.6.2.4 The effect of changing conditions on equilibrium

C3.5.1d Making ammonia

New: effects of changing conditions and Le Chatelier’s principle.


4.6.2.5 The effect of changing concentration

New topic.


4.6.2.6 The effect of temperature changes on equilibrium

C3.5.1e, f Making ammonia


4.6.2.7 The effect of pressure changes on equilibrium

C3.5.1g Making ammonia

New: effect of decreasing pressure on equilibrium.


N/A C3.5.1h Making ammonia


4.7 Organic chemistry

4.7.1 Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock

Section


What’s changed


4.7.1.1 Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes

C1.4.1a, c Crude oil

C1.4.2a Hydrocarbons

New:

source of crude oil

homologous series

names of alkanes.

4.7.1.2 Fractional distillation and petrochemicals

C1.4.2b Hydrocarbons

New:

use of fractions

uses of fuels.

4.7.1.3 Properties of hydrocarbons

C1.4.2c Hydrocarbons

C1.4.3b Hydrocarbon fuels

New:

properties of hydrocarbons

complete combustion.

4.7.1.4 Cracking and alkenes

C1.5.1a, b, d, e Obtaining useful substances from crude oil

C1.5.2a Polymers

New: demand for fuels.

N/A C1.6.1a, b, c Vegetable oils

C1.6.2a, b Emulsions

C1.6.3a, b Saturated and unsaturated oils


4.7.2 Reactions of alkenes and alcohols (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.7.2.1 Structure and formulae of alkenes

C1.5.1b, c Obtaining useful substances from crude oil

New:

definition of alkenes

first four members of series.

4.7.2.2 Reactions of alkenes

C1.5.3a Ethanol

New:

functional group

combustion

reactions with hydrogen, water and halogens.

4.7.2.3 Alcohols

C1.5.3b Ethanol

C3.6 introduction Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters

C3.6.1a, b Alcohols

4.7.2.4 Carboxylic acids

C3.6 introduction Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters

C3.6.2a, b Carboxylic acids

C3.6.3a Esters

N/A C3.6.1c Alcohols


4.7.3 Synthetic and naturally occurring polymers (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.7.3.1 Addition polymerisation

C1.5.2a Polymers

New: information on repeating unit.

4.7.3.2 Condensation polymerisation

New topic.


4.7.3.3 Amino acids New topic.


4.7.3.4 DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and other naturally occurring polymers

New topic.

N/A C1.5.2b, c, d Polymers

This content is no longer present in the new

specification.

4.8 Chemical analysis

4.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography

Section


What’s changed


4.8.1.1 Pure substances

New topic.

4.8.1.2 Formulations New topic.

4.8.1.3 Chromatography

New topic.

4.8.2 Identification of common gases

Section


What’s changed


4.8.2.1 Test for hydrogen

New topic.

4.8.2.2 Test for oxygen

New topic.

4.8.2.3 Test for carbon dioxide

C1.2.1e Calcium carbonate

4.8.2.4 Test for chlorine

New topic.

N/A C1.2.1a, b, c, d, f, g Calcium carbonate


4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means

(chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.8.3.1 Flame tests C3.4.1a Analysing substances

New: masking of flame colours.

4.8.3.2 Metal hydroxides

C3.4.1b, c Analysing substances

4.8.3.3 Carbonates

C3.4.1d Analysing substances

New: soluble carbonates.

4.8.3.4 Halides

C3.4.1e Analysing substances

4.8.3.5 Sulfates C3.4.1f Analysing substances

4.8.3.6 Instrumental methods

C2.3.2 a Analysing substances

4.8.3.7 Flame emission spectroscopy

New topic.

N/A C2.3.2c Analysing substances


4.9 Chemistry of the atmosphere

4.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere

Section


What’s changed


4.9.1.1 The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere

C1.7.2a The Earth’s atmosphere

4.9.1.2 The Earth's early atmosphere

C1.7.2b, c The Earth’s atmosphere

New:

production of nitrogen by volcanoes

solution of carbon dioxide in oceans.

4.9.1.3 How oxygen increased

C1.7.2f The Earth’s atmosphere

New:

equation for photosynthesis

role of algae.

4.9.1.4 How carbon dioxide decreased

New topic.

N/A C1.7.1a, b, c, d The Earth’s crust

C1.7.2d, e, g, h, I, j The Earth’s atmosphere


4.9.2 Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases

Section


What’s changed


4.9.2.1 Greenhouse gases

New topic.

4.9.2.2 Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

New topic.

4.9.2.3 Global climate change

New topic.

4.9.2.4 The carbon footprint and its reduction

New topic.

4.9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources

Section


What’s changed


4.9.3.1 Atmospheric pollutants from fuels

C1.4.3a Hydrocarbon fuels

New:

production of particulates

sulfur dioxide

oxides of nitrogen.

4.9.3.2 Properties and effects of atmospheric pollutants

C1.4.3c Hydrocarbon fuels

New: toxicity of carbon monoxide.

N/A C1.4.3d, e Hydrocarbon fuels


4.10 Using resources

4.10.1 Using the Earth’s resources and obtaining potable water

Section


What’s changed


4.10.1.1 Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development

New topic.

4.10.1.2 Potable water

C3.2.2a, c, d Purifying water

New:

definition

methods of production.

4.10.1.3 Waste water treatment

New topic.

4.10.1.4 Alternative methods of extracting metals

C1.3.1g Extracting metals

New: processing of metal compounds obtained by bioleaching and phytomining.


N/A C3.2.1a, b, c, d, e, f, g Hard and soft water

C3.2.2b Purifying water


4.10.2 Life cycle assessment and recycling

Section


What’s changed


4.10.2.1 Life cycle assessment

New topic.

4.10.2.2 Ways of reducing the use of

New topic.

resources

4.10.3 Using materials (chemistry only)

Section


What’s changed


4.10.3.1 Corrosion and its prevention

New topic

4.10.3.2 Alloys as useful materials

C1.3.2b, c Alloys

New: bronze, gold and aluminium alloys.

4.10.3.3 Ceramics, polymers and composites

C2.2.5a, b Polymers

New:

glass

ceramics

composites.

N/A C2.2.4d Metals


4.10.4 The Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers (chemistry

only)

Section


What’s changed


4.10.4.1 The Haber process

C3.5.1a, b Making ammonia


4.10.4.2 Production and uses of NPK fertilisers

C2.6.2c Acids and bases

New:

uses of fertilisers

treatment of phosphate rock to produce fertilisers.

GCSE Chemistry Summary of changes

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