Revised Nuffield Advanced Chemistry: the Basic Course

There were eighteen topics in Revised Nuffield Advanced Chemistry divided into two, corresponding to the two years of a post-16 A-level course.

Key ideas
The treatment of chemistry in the course was based firmly on the establishment and use of three aids to understanding that were seen as being fundamental to the study of chemical systems. These were:
1. The use of the Periodic Table as a means of providing a unifying pattern for the diverse properties of elements and compounds.
2. The relationship between structure (both atomic and molecular) and the properties of substances.
3. The way in which energy transfers can determine the feasibility and outcome of reactions.

Applied chemistry
The revised Students’ Book included illustrated passages of background reading. These replaced ‘The Chemist in Action’. The background reading aimed to help student to understand the role of chemists in industry. In particular its aims were:

1. To provide examples in the modern chemical industry of the application of basic chemical principles encountered in the main body of the advanced course.
2. To illustrate the nature of the tasks undertaken by chemists in applied fields and to discuss the economic, social, and ethical considerations involved.
3. To illustrate the inter-disciplinary activities of chemists, engineers, metallurgists, biologists, medical and agricultural experts, and other specialists.
4. To provide the student with glimpses into possible future careers in applied chemistry so that he or she may have more information to help decide on courses to follow at university and beyond.