IB Chemistry Syllabus
New IB Chemistry Syllabus (from Sept. 2023)
*If you are looking for the legacy syllabus you can find it at the end of this syllabus introduction
Below you will find an overview of the IB Chemistry Diploma Programme Syllabus. Both Higher and Standard Level students study all elements of the syllabus, but HL students will do so in much greater details and have more teaching hours.
Structure
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Models of the Particulate Nature of Matter:
- Introduction to the Particulate Nature of Matter: Explore the basic concepts of particles and their behavior, including states of matter and changes in state.
- The Nuclear Atom: Understand the structure of atoms, including the nucleus, protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- Electron Configurations: Learn about electron arrangement in atoms and how it influences chemical properties.
- Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole: Discover the concept of moles and how it is used to quantify the amount of substance.
- Ideal Gases: Study the behavior of gases and the relationship between pressure, volume, temperature, and the number of particles.
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Models of Bonding and Structure:
- The Ionic Model: Explore the formation of ionic compounds through the transfer of electrons between atoms.
- The Covalent Model: Understand how atoms share electrons in covalent bonding, leading to the formation of molecules.
- The Metallic Model: Investigate the unique properties of metals and the metallic bonding that holds them together.
- From Models to Materials: Apply the knowledge of bonding models to understand the properties and structures of different materials.
Reactivity:
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What Drives Chemical Reactions?
- Measuring Enthalpy Change: Explore the concept of enthalpy and how it relates to energy changes in chemical reactions.
- Energy Cycles in Reactions: Investigate energy diagrams and how they represent the energy changes during a chemical reaction.
- Energy from Fuels: Understand the principles of energy transfer and energy conversion in fuel combustion.
- Entropy and Spontaneity (Additional Higher Level): Study the relationship between entropy and the spontaneity of reactions.
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How Much, How Fast, and How Far?
- How Much? The Amount of Chemical Change: Learn about stoichiometry and how to calculate the quantities of substances involved in a chemical reaction.
- How Fast? The Rate of Chemical Change: Explore factors affecting the rate of reactions and methods to measure reaction rates.
- How Far? The Extent of Chemical Change: Understand equilibrium and the factors that influence the position of equilibrium in chemical reactions.
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What are the Mechanisms of Chemical Change?
- Proton Transfer Reactions: Investigate acid-base reactions involving the transfer of protons (H+ ions).
- Electron Transfer Reactions: Study redox reactions that involve the transfer of electrons.
- Electron Sharing Reactions: Explore covalent bonding and reactions involving the sharing of electron pairs.
- Electron-Pair Sharing Reactions: Learn about Lewis acid-base theory and reactions involving the sharing of electron pairs.
The course is designed to provide a solid foundation that covers the structure of matter, models of bonding and chemical reactivity. A key purpose of the course is to provide a firm understanding of the quantitative aspects of the subject, including reaction rates and stoichiometry as well as the importance of energy in chemical reactions.
*Legacy Syllabus Core
1. Stoichiometric relationships
2. Atomic structure
3. Periodicity
4. Chemical bonding and structure
5. Energetics/thermochemistry
6. Chemical kinetics
7. Equilibrium
8. Acids and bases
9. Redox processes
10. Organic chemistry
11. Measurement and data processing
Additional higher level (AHL)
12. Atomic structure
13. The periodic table—the transition metals
14. Chemical bonding and structure
15. Energetics/thermochemistry
16. Chemical kinetics
17. Equilibrium
18. Acids and bases
19. Redox processes
20. Organic chemistry
21. Measurement and analysis
Option
A. Materials
B. Biochemistry
C. Energy
D. Medicinal chemistry
