AQA A-Level Chemistry Active Recall Guide (7405)
AQA · A-Level
AQA A-Level Chemistry Active Recall Guide
A question-and-answer revision guide for AQA A-Level Chemistry, built to be worked in three passes rather than read.
- AQA
- A-Level
- Specification 7405
- 18 topics
The 3-step active recall method
Re-reading notes is a futile process when your aim is to remember the information and successfully apply it in exam settings. Active recall is the method you use to ensure the information sticks for a long period of time. But even active recall can be futile unless you have a structured way of implementing it. This is where the 3-step active recall method comes in, a structured method that is signature to the Levo Learning guides.
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Step 1
Answer up to 10 questions cold, closed book, even if you are unsure on the topic.
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Step 2
Answer the same questions again, but open book. Write the correct answer down even if it seems pointless.
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Step 3
Repeat as step 1 and answer the questions closed book again.
Worked across the AQA A-Level Chemistry specification, one subtopic at a time.
The subject, and what is assessed
AQA A-Level Chemistry (specification 7405) is assessed by three written papers taken at the end of the two-year course, each lasting 2 hours. Paper 1 covers inorganic chemistry and most of physical chemistry, and Paper 2 covers organic chemistry with the physical topics that underpin it, both carrying 105 marks. Paper 3 carries 90 marks and can draw on any content, with questions on practical techniques and data analysis alongside multiple choice. Practical skills are assessed across all three papers and separately through the practical endorsement.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Inorganic and physical chemistry | 2 hours | 105 marks | 35% |
| Paper 2 | Organic and physical chemistry | 2 hours | 105 marks | 35% |
| Paper 3 | Across the specification | 2 hours | 90 marks | 30% |
Memorisation, then application
Marks are given for applying content to the question that has been set, which cannot happen while the content is still being looked up. Step 1 shows what is actually held. Step 2 puts the correct wording in front of you while the gap is still fresh. Step 3 repeats the cold test, and the difference between the first and third attempt is the part that has moved.
Every question in the guide is paired with its answer in the same document, so step 2 is done from the guide itself rather than from a separate set of notes.
What is inside the guide
Questions are grouped by topic and then by subtopic, following the AQA specification. Open a topic to see its subtopics.
Atomic Structure5 subtopics
Atomic structure is the first topic and is examined on Papers 1 and 3. It sets up the particles an atom is built from, how mass spectrometry weighs them, how electrons arrange themselves into sub-shells, and how ionisation energies give away that arrangement.
- Fundamental Particles13
- Mass Number and Isotopes12
- Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry22
- Electron Configuration and Sub-shells23
- Ionisation Energies and Periodic Trends13
Amount of Substance7 subtopics
Amount of substance is examined on Papers 1, 2 and 3, and is the topic every calculation in the specification leans on. It runs from relative masses and the mole through gas volumes, formulae, yields and titrations.
- Relative Atomic and Molecular Mass13
- The Mole and the Avogadro Constant12
- The Ideal Gas Equation18
- Empirical and Molecular Formula10
- Balanced Equations and Reaction Calculations20
- Atom Economy and Percentage Yield15
- Acid-Base Titrations and Volumetric Analysis21
Bonding7 subtopics
Bonding is examined on Papers 1, 2 and 3. It explains how atoms are held together in the three bond types, what that does to the structures they form, and how shape, polarity and the forces between molecules follow from it.
- Ionic Bonding19
- Covalent and Dative Covalent Bonding12
- Metallic Bonding6
- Crystal Structures and Physical Properties28
- Shapes of Molecules and Ions23
- Electronegativity and Bond Polarity12
- Intermolecular Forces16
Energetics and Thermodynamics8 subtopics
Energetics and thermodynamics is examined on Papers 1 and 3. It starts with measuring enthalpy change by calorimetry and Hess's law, then builds to Born-Haber cycles, entropy, and the free energy calculation that decides whether a reaction happens at all.
- Enthalpy Change and Standard Conditions15
- Calorimetry and Heat Change Calculations16
- Hess's Law and Enthalpy Cycles12
- Mean Bond Enthalpies10
- Lattice Enthalpy and Born-Haber Cycles13
- Enthalpies of Solution and Hydration15
- Entropy Change12
- Gibbs Free Energy and Reaction Feasibility15
Kinetics9 subtopics
Kinetics is examined on Papers 2 and 3. The first half explains rate qualitatively through collisions and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution; the second half makes it quantitative with rate equations, the Arrhenius equation, and what the rate-determining step reveals about a mechanism.
- Collision Theory and Activation Energy14
- Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution10
- Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rate6
- Effect of Concentration and Pressure8
- Catalysts7
- Rate Equations and Orders of Reaction22
- The Rate Constant and the Arrhenius Equation20
- Determining Rate Equations Experimentally21
- Rate Equations and Reaction Mechanisms15
Chemical Equilibria5 subtopics
Chemical equilibria is examined on Papers 1, 2 and 3. It covers what a dynamic equilibrium is, how Le Chatelier's principle predicts the effect of a change, why industry settles for compromise conditions, and the two equilibrium constants.
- Dynamic Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle20
- Industrial Compromise Conditions15
- The Equilibrium Constant Kc18
- Partial Pressures and Mole Fractions9
- The Equilibrium Constant Kp18
Redox and Electrochemistry6 subtopics
Redox and electrochemistry is examined on Papers 1 and 3. It begins with oxidation states and half-equations, then uses standard electrode potentials to predict which reactions run and to explain the cells that put them to work.
- Oxidation States and Redox Definitions23
- Half-Equations and Combined Redox Equations15
- Standard Electrode Potentials and the Hydrogen Electrode14
- Electrochemical Cells and EMF Calculations15
- Predicting Redox Reactions from Electrode Potentials14
- Commercial Cells and Fuel Cells20
Acids and Bases7 subtopics
Acids and bases is examined on Papers 1 and 3, and is the most calculation-heavy topic in physical chemistry. It runs from the Brønsted-Lowry definition through pH of strong and weak acids and bases to titration curves, indicators and buffers.
- Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Equilibria16
- The pH Scale and Strong Acids12
- The Ionic Product of Water and Strong Bases20
- Weak Acids and Ka17
- pH Curves and Acid-Base Titrations20
- Indicators8
- Buffer Solutions16
Periodicity and Group Chemistry15 subtopics
Periodicity and group chemistry is examined on Papers 1 and 3, and is the largest of the inorganic topics. It covers the block classification, the trends across Period 3 and down Groups 2 and 7, the reactions of each group, and the standard test-tube tests for ions.
- s, p, d and f Block Classification10
- Trends in Period 316
- Group 2 Trends in Atomic Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting Point10
- Reactions of Group 2 with Water13
- Solubility Trends of Group 2 Hydroxides9
- Solubility Trends of Group 2 Sulfates8
- Uses of Group 2 Compounds11
- Test for Sulfate Ions9
- Trends in Electronegativity and Boiling Point of Halogens10
- Halogens as Oxidising Agents and Displacement Reactions17
- Halide Ions as Reducing Agents27
- Test for Halide Ions Using Silver Nitrate20
- Tests for Ammonium, Group 2, Hydroxide and Carbonate Ions20
- Reactions of Chlorine with Water11
- Reactions of Chlorine with Cold Dilute NaOH and Water Treatment10
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides5 subtopics
Period 3 elements and their oxides is examined on Papers 1 and 3. It takes sodium through to sulfur, first reacting the elements with water and oxygen, then explaining the melting points of the oxides from their bonding and their behaviour with water, acids and bases.
- Reactions of Na and Mg with Water9
- Reactions of Period 3 Elements with Oxygen26
- Melting Points of Period 3 Oxides13
- Reactions of Period 3 Oxides with Water21
- Reactions of Period 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases23
Transition Metals17 subtopics
Transition metals is examined on Papers 1 and 3, and is the longest topic in the specification. It explains what makes a transition metal, then works through complex ions and their shapes, colour and colorimetry, variable oxidation states, catalysis, and the reactions used to identify metal ions.
- General Properties of Transition Metals11
- Complex Ions, Ligands and Coordination Number21
- Substitution Reactions with Monodentate Ligands17
- Substitution Reactions with Bidentate and Multidentate Ligands13
- Haemoglobin and the Chelate Effect12
- Shapes of Complex Ions and Stereoisomerism15
- Formation of Coloured Ions and the d-d Transition15
- Colorimetry and Concentration Determination9
- Variable Oxidation States and Vanadium Chemistry18
- Tollens' Reagent and Redox Titrations15
- Heterogeneous Catalysis17
- Vanadium(V) Oxide and the Contact Process10
- Homogeneous Catalysis and Autocatalysis14
- Metal-Aqua Ions and Acidity16
- Reactions of Metal Aqua Ions with Bases23
- Amphoteric Hydroxides11
- Identifying Transition Metal Ions by Test-Tube Reactions17
Introduction to Organic Chemistry7 subtopics
Introduction to organic chemistry is examined on Papers 2 and 3, and every organic topic after it depends on it. It covers naming and drawing organic compounds, the mechanisms notation used throughout, and the three kinds of isomerism.
- Nomenclature and Formula Representations15
- Homologous Series and IUPAC Naming33
- Free Radical and Curly Arrow Mechanisms14
- Structural Isomerism13
- E-Z Stereoisomerism and CIP Priority Rules12
- Chirality and Enantiomers9
- Racemic Mixtures and Optical Activity10
Hydrocarbons9 subtopics
Hydrocarbons is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It covers the alkanes from crude oil through cracking and combustion, the free radical mechanism of chlorination, then the alkenes, their electrophilic addition reactions and the polymers made from them.
- Alkanes and Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil6
- Cracking10
- Combustion of Alkanes and Pollutants16
- Free Radical Chlorination of Alkanes15
- Structure and Bonding in Alkenes6
- Electrophilic Addition Reactions14
- Markovnikov's Rule and Carbocation Stability12
- Addition Polymers and Repeating Units9
- Properties and Uses of Polyalkenes18
Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis13 subtopics
Halogenoalkanes, alcohols and organic analysis is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It covers nucleophilic substitution and elimination in halogenoalkanes, the ozone problem, then the production, classification and oxidation of alcohols, and the spectroscopic methods used to identify a compound.
- Nucleophilic Substitution of Halogenoalkanes18
- Effect of Bond Enthalpy on Reaction Rate10
- Elimination Reactions and Competing Mechanisms14
- CFCs and Ozone Depletion12
- Industrial Production of Alcohols15
- Biofuels and Carbon Neutrality11
- Classification and Oxidation of Alcohols15
- Distinguishing Aldehydes and Ketones10
- Elimination of Water from Alcohols10
- Test-Tube Reactions for Functional Groups16
- Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Formula16
- Infrared Spectroscopy and Functional Group Identification8
- IR Absorption and Global Warming6
Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives15 subtopics
Carbonyls, carboxylic acids and derivatives is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It covers the reactions of aldehydes and ketones, the acidity of carboxylic acids, esters and the fats and oils built from them, and the acyl chlorides and anhydrides used to make them.
- Oxidation of Aldehydes and Distinguishing Tests10
- Reduction of Carbonyls with NaBH414
- Nucleophilic Addition with KCN and Hydroxynitrile Formation12
- Hazards of KCN and Formation of Enantiomers10
- Structure and Acidity of Carboxylic Acids12
- Esterification Reactions15
- Uses of Esters5
- Vegetable Oils, Fats and Glycerol7
- Acid and Alkaline Hydrolysis of Esters11
- Soap Production from Fats7
- Biodiesel Production7
- Structure of Acid Anhydrides, Acyl Chlorides and Amides10
- Nucleophilic Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl Chlorides15
- Nucleophilic Addition-Elimination of Acid Anhydrides10
- Industrial Synthesis of Aspirin6
Aromatic Chemistry and Amines9 subtopics
Aromatic chemistry and amines is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It explains the delocalised structure of benzene and the evidence for it, the two electrophilic substitution mechanisms, then the preparation, base strength and nucleophilic reactions of amines.
- Bonding and Stability of Benzene9
- Electrophilic Substitution: Nitration10
- Electrophilic Substitution: Friedel-Crafts Acylation9
- Preparation of Primary Aliphatic Amines5
- Preparation of Aromatic Amines6
- Base Strength of Amines11
- Amines as Nucleophiles in Substitution Reactions11
- Quaternary Ammonium Salts and Cationic Surfactants6
- Amines with Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides17
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA13 subtopics
Polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It covers condensation polymers and their disposal, then the amino acids, proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids built by the same chemistry, and finishes with the action of cisplatin.
- Condensation Polymers: Polyesters11
- Condensation Polymers: Polyamides14
- Intermolecular Forces in Condensation Polymers11
- Biodegradability and Disposal of Polymers15
- Amino Acids and Zwitterions14
- Peptide Bonds and Protein Structure12
- Hydrogen Bonding and Disulfide Bridges in Proteins14
- Hydrolysis of Proteins and TLC Identification10
- Enzymes and Stereospecific Active Sites6
- Enzyme Inhibitors and Drug Design5
- Structure of DNA and Nucleotides9
- The DNA Double Helix and Base Pairing7
- Cisplatin and Anticancer Drug Action8
Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography10 subtopics
Organic synthesis, NMR and chromatography is examined on Papers 2 and 3, and pulls the whole organic course together. It covers planning a multi-step route, the green chemistry that judges it, then NMR and the chromatography techniques used to separate and identify the products.
- Multi-Step Synthesis Routes20
- Green Chemistry Principles in Synthesis Design13
- Principles of NMR and the Delta Scale16
- Carbon-13 NMR Interpretation12
- Proton NMR Chemical Shift and Integration17
- Spin-Spin Splitting and the n+1 Rule13
- TMS and Deuterated Solvents14
- Thin-Layer Chromatography and Rf Values15
- Column Chromatography6
- Gas Chromatography and GC-MS12
Sample questions
Taken from the AQA A-Level Chemistry guide. Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Atomic Structure
What is the relative mass of an electron?
Show the answer
1/1836 (or approximately 0.0005, or negligible) -
Amount of Substance
What standard is used as the reference for relative atomic mass?
Show the answer
One-twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12. -
Bonding
How can you predict the charge on a simple ion from the Periodic Table?
Show the answer
Group number indicates electrons lost or gained; metals lose electrons to form positive ions, non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions -
Energetics and Thermodynamics
How is a standard enthalpy change at 298 K symbolised?
Show the answer
ΔH°₂₉₈ (with the theta symbol and temperature subscript) -
Kinetics
What two conditions must be met for a reaction to occur according to collision theory?
Show the answer
Particles must collide with energy equal to or greater than the activation energy, and they must collide with the correct orientation. -
Chemical Equilibria
What is meant by a dynamic equilibrium?
Show the answer
A dynamic equilibrium is a state where the forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates, with no net change in concentrations of reactants and products. -
Redox and Electrochemistry
What is an oxidising agent in terms of electron transfer?
Show the answer
An oxidising agent is an electron acceptor -
Acids and Bases
Why can the hydrogen ion concentration of a strong monoprotic acid be assumed to equal the acid concentration?
Show the answer
Because the acid completely dissociates, releasing one H⁺ ion per molecule
Questions about this guide
How do you use active recall for AQA A-Level Chemistry?
Answer up to 10 questions cold and closed book. Answer the same questions again open book, writing the correct answer down. Then answer them closed book one more time. The difference between the first and third attempt is what has moved into recall.
How is AQA A-Level Chemistry assessed?
AQA A-Level Chemistry is assessed by 3 components: Paper 1, inorganic and physical chemistry (2 hours, 105 marks, 35%); Paper 2, organic and physical chemistry (2 hours, 105 marks, 35%); Paper 3, across the specification (2 hours, 90 marks, 30%).
What topics does the AQA A-Level Chemistry active recall guide cover?
It covers Atomic Structure, Amount of Substance, Bonding, Energetics and Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Chemical Equilibria, Redox and Electrochemistry, Acids and Bases, Periodicity and Group Chemistry, Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides, Transition Metals, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons and Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis. The full list is set out on this page.
Is the AQA A-Level Chemistry guide a PDF?
Yes. It is a digital PDF sent to the email address on your order after purchase. Check the address is correct at checkout, and check junk or spam if it has not arrived.
Does the guide include the answers?
Yes. Every question has its answer in the same document, grouped by topic, so step 2 of the method is done from the guide.
AQA A-Level Chemistry Active Recall Guide
Every question paired with its answer, grouped by topic, ready to work in three passes.