Some of the hardest questions for many GCSE chemistry students are the long answer written questions, explaining things like why the rate of reaction increases when you increase the temperature, and how the position of equilibrium shifts. So I’ve written a one-page set of notes for AQA that covers all these questions, fitting them onto a single page. These notes cover: how temperature and concentration affect rate of reaction melting point of ionic, molecular and giant covalent chemicals equilibrium position conductivity It makes chemistry so much easier for students having everything on a single page. A version with colour pictures is included. Particularly intended for GCSE chemistry but I think it’s also pretty helpful for A-level students just starting the course who need to recap what they did last year, many will have forgotten these topics. This set of notes was written against the current AQA GCSE science specifications. Past paper mark schemes consulted include: ionic bonding: 4.3 from 8464/C/2H, 2018, specification reference 5.2.2.3. giant covalent bonding: 5.1 from 8464C1H 2018, specification reference 5.2.3.1 3.4 from 8465/3H 2019, specification 4.8.1.1 simple molecular bonding and intermolecular forces: 4.4 from 8464/C/1H 2019, 5.1.2.6 and 5.2.2.4 7.1 from 84644C2H specimen, 5.2.2.4 concentration and rate: 5.5 from 8464/C/2H 2019, specification reference 5.6.1.3 temperature and rate: 6.4 from 8465/3H 2019, reference 4.7.4.3 metallic conductivity: 2.6 from 84643C1H specimen paper, reference 5.2.1.5/5.2.2.8 equilibrium: 4.3 from 8465/3H 2019, 4.7.4.8 4.7.4.10 7.2 from 84644C2H specimen, 5.6.2.4

One of the hardest questions the examiners can ask at A-level is how to predict the second and third ionisation energy. It’s not clearly labelled in the textbooks how to do this. So here’s a three-page set of notes on how to do this, working through some exam-style questions. Specification references include: OCR A 3.1.1, AQA 3.1.1.3

One-page poster and revision notes showing how to work out the formula of ionic chemicals. Includes a list of common ions, and the three scenarios: swap and drop, the ions have the same charge, and there’s more than one of an ion made of more than one atom so you need brackets. Versions both in colour and carefully converted into black and white. Then there’s also a question sheet working out the formulas of 21 chemicals, and the answers on a separate sheet. Suitable for both GCSE and A-level students-I find it really helpful as a recap for A-level students to recap the topic, since they’ve often forgotten it from GCSE. September 2023 update: based on feedback from students, I’ve explained more about what iron(II) and iron(III) are, and turned the part about when you use brackets into a checklist of questions to ask. I’ve also created an additional version of the questions split into two sets so one can be homework. The questions in the homework set 2 are similar at each level but the hardest questions are in set 1.

Notes on the tests for anions for AQA GCSE chemistry courses on a single page. A lot of work went to squeezing everything in! There’s both a full and ionic equation for carbonate, sulfate and halide ion reactions to give students good models. To show the differences in formulas between compounds of metals that form +2 and +1 ions, there’s equations for both sodium and calcium carbonate too. There’s versions of the resource for colour and black and white printing. This set of notes was particular written targeting the AQA GCSE chemistry course, but it’s suitable for most GCSE courses as well as recap for students coming in to A-level.

Notes on one page covering all the tests for cations for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, including the precipitation equations. I’ve also included model equations, both complete and ionic, for the precipitation reactions, with examples for a +2 and +3 ion. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying and links to videos of the tests.

Some of the hardest questions for many GCSE chemistry students are the written questions, explaining things like why the rate of reaction increases when you increase the temperature, and how the position of equilibrium shifts. So I’ve written a one-page set of notes that covers all these questions, fitting them onto a single page. These notes cover: how temperature and concentration affect rate of reaction melting point of ionic, molecular and giant covalent chemicals equilibrium position conductivity It makes chemistry so much easier for students having everything on a single page. Particularly intended for GCSE chemistry but I think it’s also pretty helpful for A-level students just starting the course who need to recap what they did last year, many will have forgotten these topics. Purchase includes a “general” set of notes not written for any particular exam board, and specific versions for students taking Edexcel iGCSE and the AQA 9-1 GCSEs. Changelog: a missing ‘no’ has been added in conduction. My apologies for the glitch.

One-page reference giving a case study of how to answer questions on experiment design. Suitable for GCSE and A-level students. The case study is testing catalase-catalysed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide at different temperatures. This set of notes is oriented towards exam technique and how to answer multi-mark questions on this kind of topic: the need to define and set up an independent variable, to measure a dependent variable, define some control variables, and maybe plot the data and mention some safety precautions. I specifically mention that you don’t need to give too many control variables-students often think they can get more marks listing dozens.

One-page poster of the transition metal formulas and colours of aqua ions and reactions with hydroxide ions, ammonia, carbonate ions and HCl. Covers Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+ and Co2+ ions. Versions in full colour and black and white. For AQA A-level chemistry. These notes are inspired by vocab check lists you use when you learn a foreign language-you cover the answers and read through. Getting the points to learn into an order you repeat over and over is really helpful for learning everything. UPDATE, October 2023: based on feedback from students, more details on the cobalt complexes and the problem of what you are and aren’t asked to know, the half-equation for oxidation by dissolved oxygen in alkaline solution has been added, the equation of ammonia acting as an alkali in water, and an explanation that on non-course materials you may see the hydroxide formulas without showing that they’re hydrated.

Two-page revision checklist of all the transition metal colours on the OCR A A-level chemistry specification. Also includes list of notable catalysts, half-equations with dichromate(VI) and manganate(VII) ions, lists of the types of stereoisomerism, and links to videos of most of the reactions. There’s versions both in colour and black and white. These notes are inspired by vocab lists you use when you learn a foreign language-you cover the answers and read through. Getting the points to learn into an order you repeat over and over is really helpful for learning everything. Changelog, 12/3/23: a broken link has been fixed.

One-page resource on electronegativity, covering a bullet point definition of electronegativity, polar bonds, the effect of dipoles cancelling, and which elements are most electronegative. Links to other areas of the course are made by explaining that although electronegativity is what you see in covalent bonded molecules, it correlates with higher first ionisation energy. Suitable for all A-level specifications, but particularly ties into the AQA and OCR content. An extract of a table of electronegativity is included covering all the common non-metals.

Graphic poster listing all the products of combustion and harms they cause. Suitable for all GCSE and A-level courses. Colour and black and white versions included.

Two page set of notes in table format on intermolecular forces, listing the forces, where they come from and how strong they are: instantaneous dipole-induced dipole forces, permanent dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonds. Also includes notes on which type of chemical has what forces. Page 2 explains how aldehydes and ketones and esters are hydrogen bond acceptors. Following the example of Chemguide, explains permanent dipole-dipole as more adding a bit of strength on top of instantaneous dipole-induced dipole forces forces than making the molecule highly polar and hydrophilic like hydrogen bonding. Bold, eye-catching typography and careful design sets this lesson plan out. Special bonus! This pack contains three sets of notes depending on what your course calls instantaneous-induced dipole forces/van der Waals forces/London forces, so if you teach multiple courses you’re always covered: Cambridge/CIE, OCR, Edexcel, AQA. I sell multiple SKUs of this set of three notes to show up on searches for teachers teaching different courses, but they contain the same content: all three files in the same pack.

Two page set of notes in table format on intermolecular interactions, listing the forces, where they come from and how strong they are: London forces, permanent dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonds. Also includes notes on which type of chemical has what forces. Page 2 explains how aldehydes and ketones and esters are hydrogen bond acceptors. Following the example of Chemguide, explains permanent dipole-dipole as more adding a bit of strength on top of London forces than making the molecule highly polar and hydrophilic like hydrogen bonding. Bold, eye-catching typography and careful design sets this lesson plan out. Special bonus! This pack contains three sets of notes depending on what your course calls London forces/van der Waals forces/instantaneous-induced dipole forces, so if you teach multiple courses you’re always covered: Edexcel, OCR, AQA, Cambridge. I sell multiple SKUs of this set of three notes to advertise at teachers teaching different courses, but they contain the same content: all three files in the same pack.

Two page set of notes in table format on intermolecular forces, listing the forces, where they come from and how strong they are: London forces, permanent dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonds. Also includes notes on which type of chemical has what forces. Page 2 explains how aldehydes and ketones and esters are hydrogen bond acceptors. Following the example of Chemguide, explains permanent dipole-dipole as more adding a bit of strength on top of London forces than making the molecule highly polar and hydrophilic like hydrogen bonding. Bold, eye-catching typography and careful design sets this lesson plan out. Special bonus! This pack contains three sets of notes depending on what your course calls London forces/van der Waals forces/instantaneous-induced dipole forces, so if you teach multiple courses you’re always covered: OCR, Edexcel, AQA, Cambridge. I sell multiple SKUs of this set of three notes to advertise at teachers searching for different courses, but they contain the same content: all three files in the same pack.

Two page set of notes in table format on intermolecular forces, listing the forces, where they come from and how strong they are: van der Waals, permanent dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonds. Also includes notes on which type of chemical has what forces. Page 2 explains how aldehydes and ketones and esters are hydrogen bond acceptors. Following the example of Chemguide, explains permanent dipole-dipole as more adding a bit of strength on top of van der Waals forces than making the molecule highly polar and hydrophilic like hydrogen bonding. Bold, eye-catching typography and careful design sets this lesson plan out. Special bonus! This pack contains three sets of notes depending on what your course calls van der Waals forces/London forces/instantaneous-induced dipole forces, so if you teach multiple courses you’re always covered: AQA, OCR, Edexcel, Cambridge. I sell multiple SKUs of this set of three notes to advertise at teachers teaching different courses, but they contain the same content: all three files in the same pack.

Poster showing all the most common ions students need to know about and their charges, and a reminder that negative ions have gained electrons and positive ions have lost them. Clean modern design, great for GCSE and A-level students for all courses. Most courses don’t have phosphate on the list of ions to know, so I’ve left it off the main list. But in case your course does need it, I’ve added a second version of the sheet with the phosphate ion added. If you like this resource, you might want my exercises working out formulas of ionic chemicals. Update, April 2024: added zinc and some hints about iron(II) vs. iron(III)

Worksheet as a reminder of how the ideal gas law works, showing all the unit conversions and with a model calculation. Also includes a diagram of why a cubic metre = 1 million cubic centimetres, something students often have trouble with. Suitable for all A-level chemistry and 16+ exam boards e.g. AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge. The assumptions the ideal gas law makes are also explained.

Poster naming some of the most common inorganic reactions at GCSE and A-level chemistry: metals reacting with water and acid, metal hydroxides, oxides, carbonates and ammonia reacting with acids. Clean, modern design highlighting similarities between the reactions e.g. water formed. There’s versions both in colour and in black and white. The formulas of the negative ions are given for nitrate, chloride and sulfate ions. Suitable for all major GCSE exam boards (e.g. Edexcel, AQA, Cambridge), and I find it really helpful to help A-level students recap what they learned at GCSE and forgot over the summer!

The two main types of Hess cycles shown on a poster: cycles with combustion enthalpy data and formation enthalpy data. There’s versions both in colour and black and white. The diagram focuses on teaching them using a vector method which shows which arrow needs to be reversed. The answers of what to do are on the side of the poster.

Ready reference notes on the group 7 elements, covering their colour and state as elements, their colours dissolved in water and organic solvents, the precipitation reactions with silver nitrate, and their redox reactions with concentrated sulphuric acid. Both an attractive, colourful version showing all the colours and a version in black and white for photocopying. Suitable especially for the AQA exam board. I’ve also added a version squeezing everything onto a single page. It looks very compact but won’t photocopy well as well as the text gets quite small.