Current syllabus · first assessment 2020

A-Level Chemistry A2 Study Guide & Review

Complete Pearson Edexcel International A2 Chemistry Units 4–6 by connecting physical calculations, spectroscopy, redox and transition-metal evidence, multistep organic synthesis and written practical exam reasoning.

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  1. 01Learn concepts
  2. 02Practise questions
  3. 03Review mistakes

How to study Pearson Edexcel International A2 Chemistry

Pearson Edexcel International A2 Chemistry requires you to combine advanced models, calculations, representations and evidence rather than revise Topics separately. Use the IA2 syllabus map to connect kinetics, entropy, equilibria, acids, spectroscopy, redox, transition metals and organic synthesis. Start each question by identifying the chemical model and prerequisite IAS knowledge, then write equations or structures precisely, show units and significant figures and explain what the calculated or experimental evidence supports.

Rebuild weak models, mechanisms and deductions in Concept and retrieve equations, conditions, Data Booklet use and practical decisions in Mastery without notes. Apply them through the Question Bank and repair the first wrong assumption, logarithm, equilibrium expression, spectral inference, electron movement, ligand explanation or evaluation. Rehearse Core Practicals 9–16 as complete evidence chains because WCH16 transfers planning, measurement, uncertainty and improvement to unfamiliar methods, not just memorised recipes.

Practise IA2 Chemistry by reasoning type

Use distinct routines for physical calculations, spectral structure deduction, redox and transition metals, organic mechanisms and synthesis, and practical transfer.

Rates, energetics, equilibria and pH

Rate laws, Arrhenius, entropy, Born–Haber cycles, Kc, Kp, Ka, buffers and titration curves

Define the system and write the correct equation or equilibrium expression before substitution. Convert units, use logarithms and significant figures carefully, then interpret the result chemically. Check assumptions, graph evidence and direction of change instead of treating the calculation as the final conclusion.

Practise physical chemistry

Spectroscopy and structure deduction

Accurate mass, IR, carbon-13 NMR, proton NMR, integration, splitting, TLC, GC and HPLC

Start with molecular formula and unsaturation, then combine independent evidence from mass, IR, NMR and chromatography. Track the number and environment of atoms, use integration and splitting consistently, draw candidates and eliminate each incompatible structure rather than naming a molecule from one signal.

Practise structure deduction

Redox and transition-metal chemistry

Electrode potentials, cells, equilibria, complexes, colour, ligand exchange, oxidation states and catalysis

Write balanced half-equations and calculate cell emf before judging feasibility and limitations. For transition-metal evidence, connect electronic structure, ligand, coordination, oxidation state and equilibria to colour, precipitation, exchange or catalysis, using accurate formulae and observations rather than memorised colour lists alone.

Practise transition metals

Organic mechanisms and synthesis

Carbonyls, carboxylic acids, chirality, arenes, nitrogen compounds, multistep routes and purification

Draw full electron movement, intermediates, charges, reagents, conditions and products for each step. Plan backwards from the target, check functional-group compatibility and stereochemistry, then justify separation, purification, yield and identity evidence so the route is experimentally credible rather than a disconnected reaction list.

Practise organic synthesis

Core Practical transfer

Core Practicals 9–16, apparatus, controls, risk, observations, graphs, uncertainty and evaluation

Reconstruct purpose, variables, apparatus, risk control, measurements and processing for kinetics, Ka, electrochemistry, redox titration, complex preparation, unknown analysis and aspirin. Explain precision, uncertainty and chemical observations, pair each limitation with a feasible improvement and adapt the logic to unseen WCH16 methods.

Practise Practical Skills II

Where to start

Start from a known Topic or diagnose whether the recurring weakness is advanced calculation, representation, synoptic retrieval, structure deduction, mechanism or practical transfer.

Choose your starting point

  1. I know the weak Topic

    Open its exact Unit destination and identify the failed model, equation, calculation, spectral inference, mechanism, practical decision or evidence link.

    Browse Units 4–6

  2. I do not know what is weak

    Use mixed WCH14–WCH16 questions to separate prerequisite gaps from quantitative, deductive, synthetic, explanatory and practical-transfer failures.

    Start an IA2 diagnostic

Choose the right IA2 Chemistry starting point

  1. Model and represent the chemistry

    Reconstruct the particles, energetics, equilibrium, structure or reaction pathway and express it with the required equations, graphs, structures or mechanism.

    Review a Concept

  2. Retrieve evidence and conditions

    Reproduce formulas, Data Booklet locations, reagents, conditions, observations, spectral rules, practical controls and measurement conventions without notes.

    Check Mastery

  3. Apply, test and repair

    Answer an unfamiliar calculation, deduction, synthesis or experiment question, identify the first unsupported step and retry with corrected chemical reasoning.

    Practise questions

Explore the Pearson Edexcel Chemistry IA2 units

Navigate ten advanced theory Topics across Units 4–5, the written Unit 6 practical-skills destination and five supporting mathematics areas. This 4-group, 16-topic IA2 map owns WCH14–WCH16 and Core Practicals 9–16; IAS remains a synoptic prerequisite.

4
syllabus groups
16
mapped topics

Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry

Open unit questions
Topic 11: KineticsTopic 12: Entropy and EnergeticsTopic 13: Chemical EquilibriaTopic 14: Acid-base EquilibriaTopic 15: Organic Chemistry: Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Chirality

Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry

Open unit questions
Topic 16: Redox EquilibriaTopic 17: Transition Metals and their ChemistryTopic 18: Organic Chemistry – ArenesTopic 19: Organic Nitrogen Compounds: Amines, Amides, Amino Acids and ProteinsTopic 20: Organic Synthesis

Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II

Open unit questions
Practical Skills in Chemistry II

Assessed mathematical skills and measurement conventions

Open unit questions
B.0 Arithmetic and numerical computationB.1 Handling dataB.2 AlgebraB.3 GraphsB.4 Geometry and trigonometry

Pearson Edexcel International A2 Chemistry assessment

IA2 consists of three externally assessed written units. WCH14 and WCH15 each contribute 40% of IA2, while WCH16 contributes 20%; full YCH11 also requires IAS Units 1–3.

Paper / componentQuestionsTime% of grade
Unit 4 Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry (WCH14/01)Multiple-choice, short/open, calculation, extended-writing and data questions90 marksSection A contains multiple choice, Section B contains short/open, calculation and extended responses, and Section C is a data or calculation question. A clean Data Booklet is supplied, at least 22 marks assess Level 2-or-above mathematics and Units 1–2 may be required.How to prepare: Practise rate, entropy, equilibrium, pH and titration calculations with equations, units and interpretation, then integrate carbonyl chemistry, chirality, spectroscopy and chromatography. Retrieve IAS moles, bonding, energetics, organic conventions and practical assumptions whenever the unfamiliar context crosses the modular boundary.1 hour 45 minutes40% of IA2; 20% of IAL
Unit 5 Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry (WCH15/01)Multiple-choice, short/open, calculation, extended-writing and contemporary-context questions90 marksSections A and B assess multiple-choice, short/open, calculation and extended responses; Section C uses a contemporary context. A clean Data Booklet is supplied, at least 18 marks assess mathematics and Units 1, 2 and 4 may be required.How to prepare: Build redox and transition-metal explanations from equations and electronic structure, then connect arenes, nitrogen compounds and multistep synthesis across the specification. Practise unfamiliar evidence, precise formula representations, electrode calculations, mechanisms, purification and identity tests rather than relying on isolated reaction or colour recall.1 hour 45 minutes40% of IA2; 20% of IAL
Unit 6 Practical Skills in Chemistry II (WCH16/01)Short-open, open-response and calculation questions50 marksThis external written paper applies procedures and techniques from Units 4–5, Core Practicals 9–16 and selected Units 1–2 qualitative tests to familiar and unfamiliar situations. All questions are compulsory, at least 6 marks assess mathematics and no Data Booklet is specified.How to prepare: Reconstruct purpose, apparatus, variables, risk, observations, measurements, graphs, processing, uncertainty, conclusions and improvements. Practise kinetics, Ka, cells, redox titration, complex preparation, unknown analysis and aspirin synthesis as transferable reasoning; WCH16 is not a live bench practical or recipe-recall paper.1 hour 20 minutes20% of IA2; 10% of IAL

SourcePearson Edexcel · Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level in ChemistryYCH11 · Issue 1 · September 2017

Pearson Edexcel International A2 Chemistry questions

The IA2 stage contains Unit 4 WCH14, Unit 5 WCH15 and Unit 6 WCH16. Units 4–5 cover Topics 11–20, while Unit 6 assesses Practical Skills in Chemistry II. IA2 is not a separate cash-in award; full YCH11 also requires IAS Units 1–3.

WCH16 is a one-hour-20-minute external written paper worth 50 marks. It assesses planning, procedures, apparatus, safety, observations, calculations, graphs, uncertainty and evaluation from Units 4–5, Core Practicals 9–16 and selected earlier qualitative tests in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. It is not a live bench examination.

IA2 owns Core Practicals 9–16: iodine–propanone and iodine-clock kinetics, activation energy, weak-acid Ka, electrochemical cells, two redox titrations, transition-metal complex preparation, unknown analysis and aspirin preparation. WCH16 can transfer their reasoning to novel situations, so learn purpose, evidence, uncertainty and method decisions rather than recipes alone.

Yes. WCH14 may require Units 1–2, while WCH15 may require Units 1, 2 and 4. Retrieve earlier moles, bonding, energetics, redox, group chemistry, mechanisms and practical assumptions when the advanced problem depends on them. The A2 map remains Units 4–6 even though assessment is cumulatively synoptic.

Pearson supplies a clean Data Booklet for WCH14 and WCH15; the booklet identifies use with Units 2, 4 and 5. Do not annotate the examination copy or assume it replaces formula and concept knowledge. WCH16 does not specify the Data Booklet, so practical calculations and evidence must be prepared independently.