SQA Website - National 5 Chemistry
In S3 and S4 the chemistry course has been developed to allow students to experience an experimental and investigative approach to develop knowledge and understanding of chemistry concepts.
The course provides opportunities for learners to recognise the impact chemistry makes on developing sustainability, and its effects on the environment, on society and on the lives of themselves and others.
Successful learners in chemistry think creatively, analyse and solve problems. Chemistry can produce responsible citizens through studying the impact it makes on developing sustainability, and its effect on the environment, society, and the lives of themselves and others.
The S3 course initially allows learners to develop scientific skills and knowledge of the chemical reactions in our world. Through practical experience, learners will investigate rates of chemical reactions and the chemistry of compounds due to their bonding type. They then progress onto “carbon” chemistry with understanding the structure of hydrocarbons and related reactions to everyday consumer products such as alcohols and carboxylic acids.
In S4 the course progresses from S3 with a review of S3 work and pupils gain further exam practise before studying Acids and Alkalis and develop experience of neutralisation reactions and titrations (a practical skill that permeates all chemistry courses.) They complete S4 with Metals, Nuclear Chemistry and Fertilisers and Chemical Analysis. The course allows for pupils to increase their resilience and problem solving skills as well as scientific literacy and numeracy.
Pupils must also complete a chemical assignment which contributes to 20% of the overall grade and is marked externally by the SQA. The exam is a written paper consisting of multiple choice and written questions and lasts 2.5 hours.
Pupils who pass National 5 chemistry can progress on to Higher Chemistry in S5.