KS3 & KS4 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Solid, liquid, gas states and changes of state, where they explored particle behaviour in different states and how materials change under various conditions. It enhances their understanding by focusing on the structure of atoms, elements, and compounds, and how these fundamental particles combine. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Understanding chemical reactions, where they will apply this knowledge to explore how atoms rearrange during chemical reactions, reinforcing the principles of matter and its transformations.

1. Atoms and elements
2. Properties of elements
3. Metallic elements
4. Molecular elements
5. Common elements
6. Compounds and their formation
7. Chemical formulae
8. Naming compounds
9. A particle model of chemical reactions

• A pure substance is made of only one type of particle.
• A pure substance has a fixed melting point and boiling point.
• Impurities change the melting and boiling point of a substance.
• Mass of substances that are mixed adds to give the total mass of the mixture (mass is conserved).
• Mass is measured with a balance in grams.