Leaving Cert Chemistry

1. Leaving Certificate
Chemistry
Ballinrobe
Community
School

2. Topics Covered
• The Atom
• Arrangement of electrons in the atom
• The Periodic Table
• Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Equations
• Radioactivity
• Properties of Gases
• The Mole
• Stoichiometry
• Acids and Bases
• Oxidation and Reduction
• Titrations
• Rate of Reactions
• Chemical Equilibrium
• Electrochemistry
• Organic Chemistry

3. Experiments
• Usually 1 double class and 3 single classes per week
• 28 mandatory experiments
Examples
• To extract clove oil from cloves by steam distillation
• To prepare a sample of soap
• To determine the concentration of ethanoic acid in vinegar
• To prepare ethene and examine its properties

4. Answers to Some Frequently Asked Questions!
• You do not need to be doing honours maths, but you should be
able to manipulate a formula
• Basic use of equations required on the course
• Having a logical brain, that is good at problem solving, is a help
in Chemistry
• You should be able to visualize things that we can’t see (eg.
atoms, electrons, radioactivity)
• In 2021, 19.1% of students achieved H1 in Chemistry
• If you know your stuff, the marking scheme is very black and
white – opportunity to do very well!
• About 80 definitions to be learned off by heart.

5. Some university courses definitely require Leaving Cert Chemistry as an entry requirement.
Lots of courses require a science subject (eg. Science, engineering, nursing, medicine etc)

6. What sort of careers does a study of chemistry lead to?
• Chemist in industry
- Drug design and production (eg.Abbvie, Boston Scientific, etc)
- Cosmetics and perfumes
- Food production
- etc
• Forensic Scientist
• Medical laboratory scientist
• Academic research
• Regulatory bodies (eg. Health products regulatory authority)
A science qualification is very highly regarded by lots of employers. The skills you learn in
problem solving, logical thinking, planning etc are useful in whatever area you progress to.