UniGeniusNational 5 Chemistry

National 5 Chemistry

What is in National 5 Chemistry

National 5 Chemistry covers three areas of chemistry, which this course teaches in seven sections. The question paper is 80 marks in 2 hours, with a data booklet: 20 multiple-choice questions in Section 1 and 60 marks of restricted and extended response questions in Section 2. An assignment done in school makes up the rest of the award.

Weeks before the question paper
Hours a week for chemistry
Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding
Section 2: Formulae and the mole
Section 3: Acids and bases
Section 4: Hydrocarbons
Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels
Section 6: Metals and plastics
Section 7: Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Section 1

Rates, atoms and bonding: 14.4 of your hours. It is 3 of the 20 questions on our Section 1 practice papers, 15%.

Hours per section
SectionYour hoursShare of the papers
Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding14.415%
Section 2: Formulae and the mole14.415%
Section 3: Acids and bases14.415%
Section 4: Hydrocarbons14.415%
Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels14.415%
Section 6: Metals and plastics14.415%
Section 7: Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis9.610%

Week by week

  1. Week 1Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding
  2. Week 2Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding
  3. Week 3Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding
  4. Week 4Section 1: Rates, atoms and bonding, Section 2: Formulae and the mole
  5. Week 5Section 2: Formulae and the mole
  6. Week 6Section 2: Formulae and the mole
  7. Week 7Section 2: Formulae and the mole
  8. Week 8Section 2: Formulae and the mole, Section 3: Acids and bases
  9. Week 9Section 3: Acids and bases
  10. Week 10Section 3: Acids and bases
  11. Week 11Section 3: Acids and bases, Section 4: Hydrocarbons
  12. Week 12Section 4: Hydrocarbons
  13. Week 13Section 4: Hydrocarbons
  14. Week 14Section 4: Hydrocarbons
  15. Week 15Section 4: Hydrocarbons, Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels
  16. Week 16Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels
  17. Week 17Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels
  18. Week 18Section 5: Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels
  19. Week 19Section 6: Metals and plastics
  20. Week 20Section 6: Metals and plastics
  21. Week 21Section 6: Metals and plastics
  22. Week 22Section 6: Metals and plastics, Section 7: Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis
  23. Week 23Section 7: Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis
  24. Week 24Section 7: Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis
  25. Week 25A timed Section 1 practice paper and two Section 2 questions, then review every lost mark
  26. Week 26A timed Section 1 practice paper and two Section 2 questions, then review every lost mark

Check your sections with the free test

Question paper80 marks in 2 hours, 80% of the award
Section 120 multiple-choice questions, 20 marks
Section 2Restricted and extended response, 60 marks
Assignment20 marks, 20% of the award, done in school

The seven sections

  • 1 Rates, atoms and bonding: rates of reaction, atomic structure and the periodic table, covalent and ionic bonding.
  • 2 Formulae and the mole: chemical formulae, balanced equations, the mole, concentration and percentage composition.
  • 3 Acids and bases: pH, neutralisation, titration and preparing soluble salts.
  • 4 Hydrocarbons: homologous series, alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, isomers and addition reactions.
  • 5 Alcohols, carboxylic acids and fuels: their names, properties and uses, combustion and energy from fuels.
  • 6 Metals and plastics: reactions of metals, redox, extraction, electrochemical cells and polymers.
  • 7 Fertilisers, nuclear chemistry and analysis: the Haber and Ostwald processes, radiation and half-life, and chemical analysis in the laboratory.

The three areas of the course

The course specification groups this content into three areas: chemical changes and structure, nature's chemistry, and chemistry in society. Practical skills and scientific inquiry run through all three, and the question paper tests them as well as knowledge.

How the question paper is set out

Section 1 is an objective test: 20 multiple-choice questions, one mark each. Section 2 is worth 60 marks: restricted and extended response questions from across the course, many built around an experiment or a set of data. A data booklet is provided, and the paper is worth 80% of the award.

Try 2 questions

Question 1
Protons and neutrons in four atoms.
AtomProtonsNeutrons
W1718
X2020
Y1720
Z1921
The table shows the numbers of protons and neutrons in four atoms, W, X, Y and Z. Which two atoms are isotopes of the same element?
Question 2
Propane burns completely in oxygen: C₃H₈ + xO₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O. What number x balances the equation?

Next step

Take the free testTake the course tour

Questions people ask

How many marks is the National 5 Chemistry question paper?

80 marks in 2 hours: 20 for the Section 1 multiple-choice questions and 60 for Section 2. It is worth 80% of the award.

Is there coursework in National 5 Chemistry?

Yes, the assignment: your own experimental research and report, done in school, 20 marks (20% of the award). This course prepares you for the question paper only.

Is a data booklet provided?

Yes. A data booklet is provided in the question paper. Practice questions here give any data they need in the question.