AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462/8464 (9-1) Specification map - Syllabus units and topics

Sep 5, 2026

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AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462/8464 (9–1) specification map organizes the course into major units and subtopics across a progression from atomic structure and bonding to quantitative chemistry, chemical changes, energy, reaction rates, and organic chemistry. It includes higher-tier chemistry-only elements such as transition metals, nanoparticles, yield and atom economy, concentrations and gas volumes, electrolysis, equilibrium, polymers, and chromatography. Additional sections cover chemical analysis, atmosphere chemistry, and using resources including potable water, recycling, materials, and the Haber process with NPK fertilisers.

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Unit 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table

1.1 A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes

1.2 The periodic table

1.3 Properties of transition metals (chemistry only)

Unit 2: Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

2.1 Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic

2.2 How bonding and structure are related to the properties of substances

2.3 Structure and bonding of carbon

2.4 Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles (chemistry only)

Unit 3: Quantitative chemistry

3.1 Chemical measurements, conservation of mass and quantitative interpretation of chemical equations

3.2 Amount of substance and masses of pure substances

3.3 Yield and atom economy of chemical reactions (chemistry only)

3.4 Concentrations of solutions in mol/dm3 (HT only)

3.5 Amount of substance and volumes of gases (chemistry only, HT only)

Unit 4: Chemical changes

4.1 Reactivity of metals

4.2 Reactions of acids

4.3 Electrolysis

Unit 5: Energy changes

5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions

5.2 Chemical cells and fuel cells (chemistry only)

Unit 6: The rate and extent of chemical change

6.1 Rate of reaction

6.2 Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium

Unit 7: Organic chemistry

7.1 Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock

7.2 Reactions of alkenes and alcohols (chemistry only)

7.3 Synthetic and naturally occurring polymers (chemistry only)

Unit 8: Chemical analysis

8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography

8.2 Identification of common gases

8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means (chemistry only)

Unit 9: Chemistry of the atmosphere

9.1 Composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere

9.2 Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases

9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources

Unit 10: Using resources

10.1 Earth’s resources and obtaining potable water

10.2 Life cycle assessment and recycling

10.3 Using materials (chemistry only)

10.4 The Haber process and the use of NPK fertilisers (chemistry only)

[www.pgonline.co.uk/resources/resources/chemistry/gcse-aqa](www.pgonline.co.uk/resources/resources/chemistry/gcse-aqa) AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462/8464 (9-1) Specification map | Trilogy, Chemistry only and Higher Tier
Unit 1 | | | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 | Unit 6 | Unit 7 | Unit 8 | Unit 9 | Unit 10 | Unit 11 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 Atomic structure and the periodic table | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1.1 | A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1.2 | The periodic table | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | | 1.3 | Properties of transition metals (chemistry only) | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2.1 | Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | 2.2 | How bonding and structure are related to the properties of substances | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | 2.3 | Structure and bonding of carbon | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | 2.4 | Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles (chemistry only) | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | | 3 Quantitative chemistry | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3.1 | Chemical measurements, conservation of mass and the quantitative interpretation of chemical equations | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | 3.2 | Use of amount of substance in relation to masses of pure substances | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | 3.3 | Yield and atom economy of chemical reactions (chemistry only) | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | 3.4 | Using concentrations of solutions in mol/dm3 (chemistry only) (HT only) | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | 3.5 | Use of amount of substance in relation to volumes of gases (chemistry only) (HT only) | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | | 4 Chemical changes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4.1 | Reactivity of metals | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | 4.2 | Reactions of acids | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | | 4.3 | Electrolysis | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | 5 Energy changes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5.1 | Exothermic and endothermic reactions | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | | 5.2 | Chemical cells and fuel cells (chemistry only) | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | E: [sales@pgonline.co.uk](sales@pgonline.co.uk) T: +44 (0)845 840 0019 [www.pgonline.co.uk](www.pgonline.co.uk) [www.pgonline.co.uk/resources/resources/chemistry/gcse-aqa](www.pgonline.co.uk/resources/resources/chemistry/gcse-aqa) AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462/8464 (9-1) Specification map | Trilogy, Chemistry only and Higher tier
Unit 1 | | | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 | Unit 6 | Unit 7 | Unit 8 | Unit 9 | Unit 10 | Unit 11 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 6 The rate and extent of chemical change | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6.1 | Rate of reaction | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | 6.2 | Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | | 7 Organic chemistry | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7.1 | Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | | 7.2 | Reactions of alkenes and alcohols (chemistry only) | | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | 7.3 | Synthetic and naturally occurring polymers (chemistry only) | | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | | 8 Chemical analysis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8.1 | Purity, formulations and chromatography | | | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | 8.2 | Identification of common gases | | | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | 8.3 | Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means (chemistry only) | | | | | | | | | | 􀁺 | | | 9 Chemistry of the atmosphere | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9.1 | The composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere | | |

FAQs

What topics are covered in Unit 1 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462/8464 specification map?

Unit 1 covers atomic structure and the periodic table, including a simple model of the atom, isotopes, and the periodic table. It also includes transition metal properties for chemistry only.

Which units focus on quantitative chemistry and chemical measurements?

Unit 3 focuses on quantitative chemistry, including chemical measurements and conservation of mass, amount of substance, yield and atom economy (chemistry only), and higher-tier concentration and gas-volume calculations.

What areas does the specification map include beyond core chemistry, such as atmosphere and resources?

It includes Unit 9 on chemistry of the atmosphere (greenhouse gases and pollutants) and Unit 10 on using resources, covering potable water, recycling, materials, and the Haber process with NPK fertilisers.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Mason