Chemistry Study Notes
Junior Cert Science
Here is a summary of the main concepts that you need to know for each of the Junior Cert Chemistry chapters (as laid out in EDCO's Exploring Science. There are also examples of mindmaps created by students in St Colmcille's CS. Feel free to look at these mindmaps but remember that the learning happens when you make your own.
Underlined concepts are higher level only.
Underlined concepts are higher level only.
17 - Solids, liquids and gases
- OC1 Name three states of matter and know their characteristics
18 – Solutions & Crystallisation
- OC15 Investigate the solubility of a variety of substances in water and the effect of temperature on solubility
- OC16 Examine the difference between a dilute, concentrated and saturated solution
- OC17 Grow crystals using alum or copper sulphate
19 – Separating Mixtures
- OC2 Separate mixtures using a variety of techniques: filtration, evaporation, distillation and paper chromatography
- OC32 Carry out a simple distillation, and obtain a sample of water from sea-water
20 – Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
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21 – The Atom
- OC39 Describe the structure of the atom, state the location, relative charge, and atomic mass of the sub-atomic particles, and define atomic number and isotope
- OC40 Draw the Bohr structure of the first 20 elements
22 – Periodic Table
- OC48 Describe the general properties of the alkali metals and understand that alkali metals are in Group I of the Periodic Table and have similar properties
- OC49 Describe the reactions of the alkali metals with air and water (word equations for reaction with water)
- OC50 Understand that Group II elements are the alkaline earth metals
23 – Chemical Bonding
- OC41 Understand how atoms of elements combine to form compounds
- OC42 Recall that ionic bonding is an attraction between positive and negative ions; describe the bonding in NaCl and MgO as examples
- OC43 State what a molecule is, understand that covalent bonds involve the sharing of pairs of electrons, and describe the bonding in H2, O2, H2O, CH4 as examples of covalent bonding
- OC44 Investigate the ability of ionic and covalent substances to conduct electricity
24 – Metals & Non-Metals
- OC4 Examine a variety of substances and classify these as metals or non-metals
- OC5 List the physical properties (state and colour only) of two examples of metallic and two examples of non- metallic elements
- OC6 Recall that metals conduct electricity and heat
- OC7 Identify everyday applications of metals, for example in industry, in the making of jewellery
- OC8 Recall the symbols of the metallic elements Cu, Zn, Al, Fe, Ag, and Au
- OC9 Recall the symbols of the non-metallic elements C, O, S, H and N
- OC10 Understand that metals are shiny (lustrous), can be beaten into shape (malleable) and can be stretched (ductile)
- OC11 Understand that solder, steel, brass and bronze are alloys, and state one use of each alloy
- OC45 Understand that rusting is a chemical process that changes iron into a new substance
- OC46 Carry out an experiment to demonstrate that oxygen and water are necessary for rusting
- OC47 List three examples of methods of rust prevention: paint, oil, galvanising
- OC51 Investigate the reaction between zinc and HCl, and test for hydrogen (word equation and chemical equation)
- OC52 Investigate the relative reactivities of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu based on their reactions with water and acid (equations not required)
25 – Fossil Fuels
- OC53 Recall that fossil fuels are sources of hydrocarbons, and that they produce CO2 and H2O when burned
- OC54 List two examples of fossil fuels
- OC55 Describe the role of the combustion of fuels and of SO2 in the production of acid rain, and describe the effects of acid rain
- OC56 Describe the effect of acid rain on limestone and on plants
- OC57 Understand that natural gas is mainly methane
26 – Acids & Bases
- OC18 Use litmus or a universal indicator to test a variety of solutions, and classify these as acidic, basic or neutral
- OC19 Investigate the pH of a variety of materials using the pH scale
- OC20 Give examples of everyday acids and bases.
- OC35 State the names and formulae of common strong acids and bases: H2SO4, HCl, NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and understand that alkalis are soluble bases
- OC36 Show the neutralisation of an acid with a base using an indicator
- OC37 Understand that, when an acid reacts with a base, a salt and water are formed
- HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O (word equation O.L.)
- 2HCl + CaCO3 → CaCl2 + CO2+ H2O (word equation O.L.)
- OC38 Titrate HCl against NaOH, and prepare a sample of NaCl.
27 - The Atmosphere
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28 - Water
- OC14 Use cobalt chloride paper or anhydrous copper sulfate to test for water
- OC33 Describe the processes involved in the treatment of water supplied to domestic consumers
- OC34 Investigate the de-composition of water by electrolysis; recall the composition of water
29 – Water Hardness
- OC30 Conduct a qualitative experiment to detect the presence of dissolved solids in water samples, and test water for hardness (soap test)
- OC31 Understand that some dissolved compounds, including compounds of calcium, cause hardness in water, and that water hardness can be removed using an ion-exchanger
30 - Plastics
- OC58 Identify everyday applications of plastics, and understand that crude oil products are the raw material for their production
- OC59 Relate the properties of plastics to their use
- OC60 Describe and discuss the impact of non-biodegradable plastics on the environment
- OC61 Understand that chemistry has an important role in pharmacy, medicine and the food industry.