Ministry of Education

Revised Sept 2016

 Form 3: Terms 1
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
1 Laboratory Skills: Record keeping
 Contents page, sections of a
report, passive vs active voice
1 Laboratory Skills: SBA profile skills
 ORR, MM, AI, PD
4 States of Matter A1.1 – 1.3  Diffusion of ammonia gas
 The particulate theory of matter  Rate of diffusion using
 The three states of matter ammonia gas and hydrogen
 Change of state chloride gas
 Diffusion in a liquid, (e.g.
water and food coloring or
potassium permanganate)
 Osmosis (potato or paw-paw)
4 Mixtures, Separations & Solubility A2.1 – 2.6  Separation experiments
 Distinguish among solutions, o paper chromatography
suspensions and colloids o simple filtration
 Effect of temperature on  Solubility of Potassium Nitrate
solubility of solids in water
 Separation techniques
o simple filtration
o simple and fractional
distillation
o paper chromatography
o the separating funnel
7 Atomic Structure A3.1 – 3.7  Make models of atoms
 Structure of elements 1 to 20
 Protons, neutrons, electrons
 Atomic and mass numbers
 Relative atomic mass
 The ba X dc notation
 Isotopy
 Uses of radioisotopes
7 Structure & Bonding A5.1 – 5.8  Make models
 Ionic and covalent bonds o sodium chloride
 formulae to represent ions, o graphite
molecules and formula units o diamond
 Metallic bonding
 ionic crystals, simple molecular
and giant molecular crystals
 distinguish between ionic and
molecular solids;
 allotropy
o Allotropes of carbon
 Form 3: Term 2
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
6 Periodic Table & Periodicity A4.1 – 4.5  Reactions of magnesium and
 Arrangement of elements in the calcium with water, air, and
periodic table dilute hydrochloric acid.
 Trends  Displacement reactions with
o group (II) chlorine, bromine and iodine
o group (VII)  PD: Investigate the position of
o period 3 element X in the periodic
table.
6 Mole concept A6.1, 6.2
 Key terms
o mole
o molar mass
o relative mass
 Calculations involving
o mass, mol and RMM
o percentage composition by
mass
6 Balancing equations A6.5
 Writing formulae
o correct stoichiometry
o Ionic & molecular equations
o No state symbols required
o No ionic equations required

Form 3: Term 3
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
8 Acids, bases and salts A7.1 – 7.10  Investigations using litmus
 Key terms paper, universal indicator, pH
o acid, acid anhydride meter
o base, alkali  Reactions of non oxidizing
o salt acids with antacids and baking
o oxides: acidic, basic, powder
amphoteric and neutral  PD: Vitamin C content of fruit
 pH scale juices
 degree of ionization
 reactions of non-oxidising acids
 acids in living systems
 reaction of bases with
ammonium salts
6  salt preparation  Prepare soluble salts
o solubility of  Prepare insoluble salts
 sulfates, nitrates,
 chlorides, carbonates
 bases.
 Form 4: Term 1
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
12 Mole Concept A6.1 – 6.7  Preparing standard solutions
 Review of key concepts
o Mole, molar mass, RMM
 Calculations involving the mole
 Avogadro’s law
 Law of conservation of matter
 Writing balanced equations
o State symbols required
 Standard solutions
12 Acids bases and salts A7.10 – 7.11  Acid-base neutralization
 Neutralization reactions titrations using indicators
 Volumetric analysis  Acid-base neutralization using
thermometers
8 Metals C1.1 – 1.2  Displacement reaction
 Physical properties of metals  Decomposition reactions
o melting point, boiling point, (action of heat on hydroxides,
conductivity, lustre, carbonates & nitrates)
hardness, density  Reactions of metals & acids
 Chemical properties of metals  Reactions of metal oxides &
o action of oxygen, water, acids
dilute hydrochloric acid,  Corrosion of iron and/or
dilute sulfuric acid aluminium
 reactions of metallic oxides,
hydroxides, nitrates and
carbonates.
2 Reactivity and extraction of metals C2.1 – 2.3
 Order of reactivity of metals
 Extraction of Al and Fe
2 Uses of metals C3.1 – 3.2Us
 Advantages of alloys
 Relate properties to uses
6 Impact of metals C4.1 – 4.3  Corrosion of iron and/or
 Corrosion of metals aluminium
 Benefits of metals and their
compounds on living systems and
the environment
 Dangers of metals and their
compounds to living systems and
the environment
6 Non metals C5.1  Burning of carbon or sulphur
 physical and chemical properties  Conductivity of carbon or
of non metals sulphur
 Preparation of gases
 Form 4: Term 2
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
8 Preparation of gases C5.2  Laboratory preparation of
 Preparation of ammonia or other gas
o Oxygen  Tests for gases
o Carbon dioxide
o Ammonia
2 Uses of non metals C5.3 – 5.5
 Uses of gases and of non metals
 Harmful effects of non metals
6 Chemistry of water C5.6 – 5.8  Purify water
 Physical properties  Soften hard water
 Water treatment
o Boiling
o Filtering,
o Chlorinating
o Softening)
2 Green chemistry C5.9 – 5.10
 Definition and principles
6 Qualitative analysis C6.1 – 6.3  Identify cations
 Identify cations and anions  Identify anions
 Identify gases  Identify gases
12 Redox reactions A8.1 – 8.6  Redox titrations
 Oxidizing and reducing agents  Testing for oxidizing &
o common examples reducing agents
o distinctions between  Planning & Designing
oxidizing and reducing agents
o tests for oxidizing and
reducing agents
 Oxidation number

Form 4: Term 3
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
14 Electrochemistry A9.1 – 9.4  Simple circuits (testing for
 Distinctions between electrolytic or metallic
o Conductors and non conductors)
conductors
o metallic and electrolytic
conduction
o strong and weak electrolytes
14  Electrolysis A9.5 – 9.11  Electrolysis of copper(ii)
o cathode, anode, cation, anion sulphate solution
o ions in electrolysis  Electroplating a coin
o Faraday constant
o liberated masses & volumes
o Industrial applications
 Form 5: Term 1
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
16 Organic chemistry B2.1 – 2.8
 Carbon bonds (single, double)
 Formulae for organic compounds
 Homologous series
o Alkanes, alkenes
o Alcohols, carboxylic acid
 Naming organic compounds
 Isomerism
16 Reactions of carbon compounds B3.1 – 3.  Make models
 Alkanes and alkenes  Test for unsaturation (bromine
o Structure and reactions or potassium permanganate)
o Uses  Solubility of acids and alcohols
 Alcohols, acids, esters in water
o Functional groups  Reactions of ethanol &
o Properties ethanoic acid
o Reactions of ethanol  Breathalyzer test
o Fermentation  Saponification
 Reactions of ethanoic acid  Esterification
 Hydrolysis of esters  Investigation of soaps with
 Soapy and soapless detergents hard water
12 Polymers B4.1 – 4.3 
 Addition/condensation reactions
 Types of polymers
o Polyalkene, Polyamide,
Polyester, Polysaccharide
4 Review any topic of difficulty

Form 5: Term 2
Periods Topic S. O. Suggested practical activity
4 Mole concept A6.1 – 6.7  Titrations
 Review A7.11, A9.10  Water of crystallization
 Standard solutions
 Electroplating
10 Rates of reaction A10.1 – 10.4  Effect of concentration
 Factors which affect rate  Effect of temperature
o concentration, temperature,  Effect of surface area
surface area, catalyst  Effect of catalyst
10 Energetics A11.1 – 11.3  Heat of solution
 exothermic and endothermic  Heat of neutralization
reactions  Heat of combustion
 energy profile diagrams
 heats of reactions
Guidelines for the Chemistry course outline
This outline makes the following assumptions:
 Each period is 35 minutes
 Form 3: 2 periods per week
 Form 4: 4 periods per week
 Form 5: 4 periods per week
 Term 1: 12 available weeks
 Term 2: 9 available weeks
 Term 3: 7 available weeks

The period allocation in the current outline is as follows:

Form Term1 Term 2 Term 3 Total Total
periods time/hrs
3 2 x 12 = 24 2 x 9 = 18 2 x 7 = 14 56 33
4 4 x 12 = 48 4 x 9 = 36 4 x 7 = 28 112 65
5 4 x 12 = 48 4 x 9 = 36 84 49
Total 252 147

The syllabus is divided into three sections

Section A: Principles of Chemistry
Section B: Organic Chemistry
Section C: Inorganic Chemistry

The distribution of objectives is as follows:

Section Topic # of objectives
A Principles of Chemistry 71
B Organic Chemistry 25
C Inorganic Chemistry 23
Total 119