IB Chemistry is an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills. There are 2 levels offered for the IB Diploma Programme: Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). Check out our course structure below! Our experienced trainers will walk you through the key concepts as well as applications in examples so that you will have a deeper understanding and apply what you have mastered during exams!
Chemistry Standard Level (SL) Course Structure
| Sessions for core curriculum (shared by both SL and HL): | ||
| Session | Topics | Subtopics |
| 1 | Stoichiometric relationships | Mole concept, reacting masses and volumes |
| Atomics structure | The nuclear atom, electron configuration | |
| Periodicity | Periodic table and trends | |
| Chemical bonding and structure | Ionic/covalent bonding and structure, intermolecular forces, metallic bonding | |
| 2 | Energetics/thermochemistry | Measuring energy changes, Hess’s law, bond enthalpies |
| Chemical kinetics | Collision theory and rates of reaction | |
| Equilibrium | - | |
| 3 | Acids and bases | Theories/properties of acids and bases, pH scale, strong and weak acids/bases, acid deposition |
| Redox processes | Oxidation and reduction, electrochemical cells | |
| Organic chemistry | Fundamentals of organic chemistry, functional group chemistry | |
| Measurement and data processing | Uncertainties and errors in measurement and results, graphical techniques, spectroscopic identification of organic compounds | |
| Sessions for option curriculum (Both SL and HL pick one): | ||
| Session | Topic | Subtopics |
| A | Materials | Material science, metals and ICP spectroscopy, catalysts, liquid crystals, polymers, nanotechnology, environmental impacts of plastics and heavy metals, superconducting metals and X-ray crystallography, condensation polymers |
| B | Biochemistry | Proteins and enzymes, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and enzymes, nucleic acids, biological pigments, stereochemistry |
| C | Energy | Energy sources, fossil fuels, nuclear fusion and fission, solar energy, global warming, photovoltaic and dye-sensitized solar cells |
| D | Medicinal chemistry | Pharmaceutical products and drug action, aspirin and penicillin, opiates, pH regulation of the stomach, antiviral medications, nuclear medicine, drug detection and analysis |
Chemistry Higher Level (HL) Course Structure
| Sessions for core curriculum (shared by both SL and HL): | ||
| Session | Topics | Subtopics |
| 1 | Stoichiometric relationships | Mole concept, reacting masses and volumes |
| Atomics structure | The nuclear atom, electron configuration | |
| Periodicity | Periodic table and trends | |
| Chemical bonding and structure | Ionic/covalent bonding and structure, intermolecular forces, metallic bonding | |
| 2 | Energetics/thermochemistry | Measuring energy changes, Hess’s law, bond enthalpies |
| Chemical kinetics | Collision theory and rates of reaction | |
| Equilibrium | - | |
| 3 | Acids and bases | Theories/properties of acids and bases, pH scale, strong and weak acids/bases, acid deposition |
| Redox processes | Oxidation and reduction, electrochemical cells | |
| Organic chemistry | Fundamentals of organic chemistry, functional group chemistry | |
| Measurement and data processing | Uncertainties and errors in measurement and results, graphical techniques, spectroscopic identification of organic compounds | |
| Sessions for AHL curriculum (HL students only): | ||
| Session | Topics | Subtopics |
| 1 | Atomic structure | Simple harmonic motion, single-slit diffraction, interference, resolution, The Doppler effect |
| The periodic table — Transition metals | First-row d-block elements, coloured complexes | |
| Chemical bonding and structure | Further aspects of covalent bonding and structure, hybridization | |
| 2 | Energetics/thermochemistry | Energy cycles, entropy and spontaneity |
| Chemical kinetics | Rate expression and reaction mechanism, activation energy | |
| Equilibrium | Equilibrium law | |
| 3 | Acids and bases | Lewis acids and bases, pH curves |
| Redox processes | Electrochemical cells | |
| Organic chemistry | Organic reactions, synthetic routes, stereoisomerism | |
| Measurement and analysis | Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds | |
| Sessions for option curriculum (Both SL and HL pick one): | ||
| Session | Topic | Subtopics |
| A | Materials | Material science, metals and ICP spectroscopy, catalysts, liquid crystals, polymers, nanotechnology, environmental impacts of plastics and heavy metals, superconducting metals and X-ray crystallography, condensation polymers |
| B | Biochemistry | Proteins and enzymes, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and enzymes, nucleic acids, biological pigments, stereochemistry |
| C | Energy | Energy sources, fossil fuels, nuclear fusion and fission, solar energy, global warming, photovoltaic and dye-sensitized solar cells |
| D | Medicinal chemistry | Pharmaceutical products and drug action, aspirin and penicillin, opiates, pH regulation of the stomach, antiviral medications, nuclear medicine, drug detection and analysis |
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