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IB Chemistryβ€ΊChemistry HL
Revision Notes

IB Chemistry HL

Clear, student-friendly revision notes for IB Chemistry Higher Level β€” every SL topic plus the HL depth (transition elements, spectroscopy, entropy, kinetics, buffers and electrochemistry), each with worked examples and exam pointers for Papers 1 and 2.

Chemistry HL Β· Revision Notes

Table of Contents

Click any topic to expand and view all the notes inside. Notes marked (HL) are Higher Level only.

1

Atoms, Elements & the Mole

Inside the atom β€” structure, electron arrangement, the mole concept and gas behaviour.

23 notesβ–Ύ

Particles & States of Matter

4β–Ύ
Elements, Compounds & Mixtures→ Separating Mixtures→ Changing State→ Average Kinetic Energy→

Atomic Structure

4β–Ύ
The Nuclear Atom Model→ Subatomic Particles→ Isotopes→ Reading Mass Spectra (HL)→

Electron Arrangement

6β–Ύ
The EM Spectrum→ Emission Spectra→ Energy Levels & Orbitals→ Writing Electron Configurations→ Ionisation Energy from Spectra (HL)→ Successive Ionisation Energies (HL)→

The Mole & Counting Particles

5β–Ύ
The Moleβ†’ Molar Massβ†’ Empirical & Molecular Formulaeβ†’ Concentration of Solutionsβ†’ Avogadro’s Lawβ†’

Gas Behaviour

4β–Ύ
Ideal Gases→ Molar Gas Volume→ The Ideal Gas Equation→ Real Gases→
2

Chemical Bonding & Structure

How atoms join β€” ionic, covalent and metallic bonds, and the materials they build.

29 notesβ–Ύ

Ionic Bonding

3β–Ύ
Forming Ions→ Binary Ionic Compounds→ Ionic Lattices→

Covalent Bonding

17β–Ύ
Covalent Bonds→ Lewis Structures→ Double & Triple Bonds→ Dative (Coordinate) Bonds→ Molecular Shapes→ Bond Polarity→ Molecular Polarity→ Giant Covalent Structures→ Intermolecular Forces→ Properties of Covalent Substances→ Chromatography→ Resonance Structures (HL)→ Benzene (HL)→ Expanded Octets (HL)→ Formal Charge (HL)→ Sigma & Pi Bonds (HL)→ Orbital Hybridisation (HL)→

Metallic Bonding

3β–Ύ
Properties & Uses of Metals→ s- & p-Block Elements→ Transition Element Properties (HL)→

Bonding & Materials

6β–Ύ
Bonding Models→ Bonding & Properties→ Alloys→ Polymers→ Addition Polymers→ Condensation Polymers (HL)→
3

Classifying the Elements & Compounds

Organising the elements on the periodic table and grouping organic molecules.

23 notesβ–Ύ

The Periodic Table

11β–Ύ
The Periodic Table→ Configurations & the Periodic Table→ Periodic Trends→ Group 1 Reactions with Water→ Group 17 & Halide Displacement→ Metal & Non-Metal Oxides→ Oxidation States→ Ionisation Trends Across a Period (HL)→ Key Transition Element Behaviour (HL)→ Variable Oxidation States (HL)→ Colour in Complex Ions (HL)→

Organic Compounds & Functional Groups

12β–Ύ
Representing Organic Formulae→ Functional Groups→ Homologous Series→ IUPAC Naming→ Structural Isomers→ Cis-Trans Isomers (HL)→ Enantiomers (HL)→ MS Fragmentation Patterns (HL)→ Interpreting IR Spectra (HL)→ Proton NMR Spectroscopy (HL)→ NMR Peak Splitting (HL)→ Combined Structural Analysis (HL)→
4

Energetics & Thermochemistry

The energy behind reactions β€” enthalpy, energy cycles, fuels, entropy and spontaneity.

23 notesβ–Ύ

Measuring Enthalpy

5β–Ύ
Heat vs Temperature→ Exothermic & Endothermic Reactions→ Energy Profiles→ Standard Enthalpy Changes→ Calorimetry→

Energy Cycles

7β–Ύ
Bond Enthalpy Calculationsβ†’ Hess’s Lawβ†’ Hess’s Law Calculationsβ†’ Enthalpy from Ξ”Hf⦡ (HL)β†’ Enthalpy from Ξ”Hc⦡ (HL)β†’ Born-Haber Cycles (HL)β†’ Born-Haber Calculations (HL)β†’

Fuels & Combustion

6β–Ύ
Combustion Reactions→ Incomplete Combustion→ CO₂ Produced by Burning Fuels→ CO₂ & the Greenhouse Effect→ Biofuels→ Fuel Cells→

Entropy & Spontaneity

5β–Ύ
Entropy (HL)β†’ Standard Entropy Calculations (HL)β†’ Gibbs Free Energy (HL)β†’ Spontaneity of Reactions (HL)β†’ Gibbs Energy & Kc (HL)β†’
5

Stoichiometry, Rates & Equilibrium

Reacting amounts, how fast reactions go and where they settle.

28 notesβ–Ύ

Stoichiometry & Amounts

7β–Ύ
Balancing Equationsβ†’ Reacting Mass Calculationsβ†’ Avogadro’s Law & Gas Volumesβ†’ Concentration Calculationsβ†’ Limiting & Excess Reactantsβ†’ Percentage Yieldβ†’ Atom Economyβ†’

Reaction Rates & Kinetics

14β–Ύ
Rate of Reaction→ Measuring Reaction Rates→ Collision Theory→ Factors Affecting Rate→ Activation Energy→ Catalysts & Energy Profiles→ Maxwell-Boltzmann Distributions→ The Rate Equation (HL)→ Reaction Orders (HL)→ The Rate Constant (HL)→ Reaction Mechanisms (HL)→ Molecularity (HL)→ The Arrhenius Equation (HL)→ Finding Ea & the Arrhenius Factor (HL)→

Chemical Equilibrium

7β–Ύ
Dynamic Equilibriumβ†’ The Equilibrium Lawβ†’ The Equilibrium Constant (Kc)β†’ Le Chatelier’s Principleβ†’ The Reaction Quotient (HL)β†’ Equilibrium Calculations (HL)β†’ Kc & Gibbs Energy (HL)β†’
6

Reaction Mechanisms & Acids/Redox

How bonds break and form β€” acids, redox and organic reaction pathways.

46 notesβ–Ύ

Acids & Bases

17β–Ύ
BrΓΈnsted–Lowry Acids & Basesβ†’ Conjugate Acid-Base Pairsβ†’ Amphiprotic Speciesβ†’ The pH Scaleβ†’ The Ionic Product of Waterβ†’ Strong & Weak Acidsβ†’ Neutralisation Reactionsβ†’ pH Titration Curvesβ†’ Reading pH Curves (HL)β†’ The pOH Scale (HL)β†’ Ka & Kb Dissociation Constants (HL)β†’ Acid-Base Dissociation Problems (HL)β†’ Salt Hydrolysis (HL)β†’ Acid-Base Indicators (HL)β†’ Choosing an Indicator (HL)β†’ Buffer Solutions (HL)β†’ Buffer Calculations (HL)β†’

Redox & Electrochemistry

15β–Ύ
Oxidation & Reduction→ Half Equations→ Reactivity & Redox Ease→ Acids with Reactive Metals→ Primary Cells→ Secondary Cells→ Electrolytic Cells→ Oxidising Alcohols→ Reducing Carbonyls & Acids→ Reducing Unsaturated Compounds→ The Standard Hydrogen Electrode (HL)→ Standard Cell Potentials (HL)→ Gibbs Energy & Cell Potential (HL)→ Electrolysis of Solutions (HL)→ Electroplating (HL)→

Radical Reactions

3β–Ύ
Radicals→ Homolytic Fission→ Halogenation of Alkanes→

Nucleophilic & Electrophilic Reactions

11β–Ύ
Nucleophilic Substitution→ Heterolytic Fission→ Electrophilic Addition Reactions→ Lewis Acids & Bases (HL)→ Lewis Acid-Base Reactions (HL)→ Coordination Bonds (HL)→ Substitution in Halogenoalkanes (HL)→ Rates of Nucleophilic Substitution (HL)→ Electrophilic Addition Mechanisms (HL)→ Addition to Unsymmetrical Alkenes (HL)→ Electrophilic Substitution in Benzene (HL)→
7

Practical Skills Toolkit

The hands-on methods, tech and maths every chemistry experiment relies on.

9 notesβ–Ύ

Skill Set 1: Experimental Technique

3β–Ύ
Safety, Ethics & the Environment→ Measuring Variables→ Applying Lab Techniques→

Skill Set 2: Using Technology

2β–Ύ
Using Tech to Collect Data→ Using Tech to Process Data→

Skill Set 3: Maths for Chemistry

4β–Ύ
Maths Skills for Chemistry→ Units, Symbols & Values→ Handling Uncertainties→ Graphing Skills→
8

The Scientific Inquiry Cycle

Working like a scientist, from first question to final evaluation.

6 notesβ–Ύ

Stage 1: Explore & Design

3β–Ύ
Exploring a Problem→ Designing an Investigation→ Controlling Variables→

Stage 2: Collect & Process Data

3β–Ύ
Collecting Data→ Processing Data→ Interpreting Results→

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