2020 IB Test Cancellation Due to COVID-19
Because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, IB exams for May 2020 have been canceled and coursework deadlines have been extended for schools that have closed.
IB Chemistry SL and HL Core
Both IB Chemistry SL and HL cover the first 11 topics (a total of 95 hours), and HL additionally covers topics 12 to 21 (an additional 60 hours). For both levels, you’ll also study one of the four options A-D (15 hours for SL, 25 hours for HL).
Topic #1: Stoichiometric Relationships—13.5 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Introduction to the particulate nature of matter and chemical change | 1.1 |
|
The mole concept | 1.2 |
|
Reacting masses and volumes | 1.3 |
|
Topic #2: Atomic Structure—6 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
The nuclear atom | 2.1 |
|
Electron configuration | 2.2 |
|
Topic #3: Periodicity—6 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Periodic table | 3.1 |
|
Periodic trends | 3.2 |
|
Topic #4: Chemical Bonding and Structure—13.5 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Ionic bonding and structure | 4.1 |
|
Covalent bonding | 4.2 |
|
Covalent structures | 4.3 |
|
Intermolecular forces | 4.4 |
|
Metallic bonding | 4.5 |
|
Topic #5: Energetics/Thermochemistry—9 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Measuring energy changes | 5.1 |
|
Hess’s Law | 5.2 |
|
Bond enthalpies | 5.3 |
|
Topic #6: Chemical Kinetics—7 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Collision theory and rates of reaction | 6.1 |
|
Topic #7: Equilibrium—4.5 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Equilibrium | 7.1 |
|
Topic #8: Acids and Bases—6.5 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Theories of acids and bases | 8.1 |
|
Properties of acids and bases | 8.2 |
|
The pH scale | 8.3 |
|
Strong and weak acids and bases | 8.4 |
|
Acid deposition | 8.5 |
|
Topic #9: Redox Processes—8 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Oxidation and reduction | 9.1 |
|
Electrochemical cells | 9.2 | Voltaic (Galvanic) cells
Electrolytic cells
|
Topic #10: Organic Chemistry—11 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Fundamentals of organic chemistry | 10.1 |
|
Functional group chemistry | 10.2 | Alkanes:
Alkenes:
Alcohols:
Halogenoalkanes:
Polymers:
Benzene:
|
Topic #11: Measurement and Data Processing—10 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Uncertainties and errors in measurement and results | 11.1 |
|
Graphical techniques | 11.2 |
|
Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds | 11.3 |
|
Additional Higher Level Topics
These topics (a total of 60 hours) are only for Higher Level students.
Topic #12: Atomic Structure—2 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Electrons in atoms (HL ONLY) | 12.1 |
|
Topic #13: The Periodic Table: Transition Metals—4 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
First-row d-block elements (HL ONLY) | 13.1 |
|
Coloured complexes (HL ONLY) | 13.2 |
|
Topic #14: Chemical Bonding and Structure—7 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Further aspects of covalent bonding and structure (HL ONLY) | 14.1 |
|
Hybridization (HL ONLY) | 14.2 |
|
Topic #15: Energetics/Thermochemistry—7 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Energy cycles (HL ONLY) | 15.1 |
|
Entropy and spontaneity (HL ONLY) | 15.2 |
|
Topic #16: Chemical Kinetics—6 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Rate expression and reaction mechanism (HL ONLY) | 16.1 |
|
Activation energy | 16.2 |
|
Topic #17: Equilibrium—4 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
The equilibrium law (HL ONLY) | 17.1 |
|
Topic #18: Acids and Bases—10 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Lewis acids and bases (HL ONLY) | 18.1 |
|
Calculations involving acids and bases (HL ONLY) | 18.2 |
|
pH curves (HL ONLY) | 18.3 |
|
Topic #19: Redox Processes—6 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Electrochemical cells (HL ONLY) | 19.1 |
|
Topic #20: Organic Chemistry—12 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Types of organic reactions (HL ONLY) | 20.1 | Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions:
Electrophilic Addition Reactions:
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions:
Reduction Reactions:
|
Synthetic routes (HL ONLY) | 20.2 |
|
Stereoisomerism (HL ONLY) | 20.3 |
|
Topic #21: Measurement and Analysis—2 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds (HL ONLY) | 21.1 |
|
Options
As a part of your IB Chemistry class you’ll cover an additional subject from the list below (typically your teacher chooses which subject you’ll cover). Whichever option is chosen, you’ll cover 5-7 topics (15 hours total) for SL and an additional 3 or 4 topics (25 hours total) for HL.
Option A: Materials—15 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Materials science introduction | A.1 |
|
Metals and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy | A.2 |
|
Catalysts | A.3 |
|
Liquid crystals | A.4 |
|
Polymers | A.5 |
|
Nanotechnology | A.6 |
|
Environmental impact—plastics | A.7 |
|
Option A: Additional HL Materials Topics—10 More Hours for HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Superconducting metals and X-ray crystallography (HL ONLY) | A.8 |
|
Condensation polymers (HL ONLY) | A.9 |
|
Environmental impact—heavy metals (HL ONLY) | A.10 |
|
Option B: Biochemistry—15 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Introduction to biochemistry | B.1 |
|
Proteins and enzymes | B.2 |
|
Lipids | B.3 |
|
Carbohydrates | B.4 |
|
Vitamins | B.5 |
|
Biochemistry and the environment | B.6 |
|
Option B: Additional HL Biochemistry Topics—10 More Hours for HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Proteins and enzymes (HL ONLY) | B.7 |
|
Nucleic acids (HL ONLY) | B.8 |
|
Biological pigments (HL ONLY) | B.9 |
|
Stereochemistry in biomolecules (HL ONLY) | B.10 |
|
Option C: Energy—15 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Energy sources | C.1 |
|
Fossil fuels | C.2 |
|
Nuclear fusion and fission | C.3 | Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fission
|
Solar energy | C.4 |
|
Environmental impact—global warming | C.5 |
|
Option C: Additional HL Energy Topics—10 More Hours for HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Electrochemistry, rechargeable batteries and fuel cells (HL ONLY) | C.6 |
|
Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission (HL ONLY) | C.7 | Nuclear fusion:
Nuclear fission:
|
Photovoltaic cells and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) (HL ONLY) | C.8 |
|
Option D: Medicinal Chemistry—15 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Pharmaceutical products and drug action | D.1 |
|
Aspirin and penicillin | D.2 | Aspirin:
Penicillin:
|
Opiates | D.3 |
|
pH regulation of the stomach | D.4 |
|
Antiviral medications | D.5 |
|
Environmental impact of some medications | D.6 |
|
Option D: Additional HL Medicinal Chemistry Topics—10 More Hours for HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Taxol—a chiral auxiliary case study (HL ONLY) | D.7 |
|
Nuclear medicine (HL ONLY) | D.8 |
|
Drug detection and analysis (HL ONLY) | D.9 |
|