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IB Chemistry›Chemistry HL
Revision Notes

IB Chemistry HL

Clear, student-friendly revision notes for IB Chemistry Higher Level — covering the full SL core plus every HL extension, from spectroscopy and transition-metal chemistry to entropy, kinetics and electrochemistry, each with worked examples and exam pointers for Papers 1 and 2.

Chemistry HL · Revision Notes

Table of Contents

Click any topic to expand and view all the notes inside.

1

Models of the Particulate Nature of Matter

The particle model, atomic structure, the mole and the behaviour of gases.

23 notes▾

Introduction to the Particulate Nature of Matter

4 notes▾
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures→ Separating Mixtures→ Changes of State→ Average Kinetic Energy→

The Nuclear Atom

4 notes▾
The Nuclear Model→ Protons, Neutrons and Electrons→ Isotopes→ Interpreting Mass Spectra (HL)→

Electronic Configurations

6 notes▾
The Electromagnetic Spectrum→ Atomic Emission Spectra→ Energy Levels, Sublevels and Orbitals→ Writing Electron Configurations→ Ionisation Energy from an Emission Spectrum (HL)→ Successive Ionisation Energies (HL)→

Counting Particles by Mass — The Mole

5 notes▾
The Mole→ Molar Mass→ Empirical Formulae→ Concentration of Solutions→ Avogadro’s Law→

The Behaviour of Ideal Gases

4 notes▾
Ideal Gases→ Molar Gas Volume→ The Ideal Gas Equation→ Real Gas Behaviour→
2

Models of Bonding & Structure

Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, plus advanced HL models of structure.

29 notes▾

Ionic Bonding

3 notes▾
Forming Ions→ Binary Ionic Compounds→ Ionic Lattice Structures→

Covalent Bonding

17 notes▾
The Covalent Bond→ Lewis (Electron Dot) Formulas→ Double and Triple Bonds→ Coordinate (Dative) Bonds→ Molecular Shapes→ Bond Polarity→ Molecular Polarity→ Giant Covalent Structures→ Intermolecular Forces→ Properties of Covalent Substances→ Chromatography→ Resonance Structures (HL)→ Benzene (HL)→ Expansion of the Octet (HL)→ Formal Charge (HL)→ Sigma and Pi Bonds (HL)→ Hybridisation (HL)→

Metallic Bonding

3 notes▾
Metallic Properties and Uses→ s-Block and p-Block Elements→ Physical Properties of Transition Elements (HL)→

From Bonding Models to Materials

6 notes▾
Comparing Bonding Models→ Bonding and Physical Properties→ Alloys and Their Properties→ Polymers→ Addition Polymerisation→ Condensation Polymers (HL)→
3

Classification of Matter

The periodic table, transition-element chemistry and organic structure analysis.

23 notes▾

Classifying the Elements: The Periodic Table

11 notes▾
Structure of the Periodic Table→ Electron Configuration and Periodicity→ Trends Across the Periodic Table→ Group 1 Metals Reacting with Water→ Group 17 Elements and Halide Ions→ Metallic and Non-Metallic Oxides→ Oxidation States→ Ionisation Energy Trends Across a Period (HL)→ Characteristic Properties of Transition Elements (HL)→ Variable Oxidation States in Transition Elements (HL)→ Colour in Transition Metal Complexes (HL)→

Classifying Organic Compounds by Functional Group

12 notes▾
Formulas of Organic Compounds→ Functional Groups→ Homologous Series→ IUPAC Naming→ Structural Isomerism→ Cis-Trans Isomers (HL)→ Enantiomers (HL)→ Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Patterns (HL)→ Infrared (IR) Spectra Interpretation (HL)→ Proton NMR Spectroscopy (HL)→ Peak Splitting in Proton NMR (HL)→ Structural Analysis of Molecules (HL)→
4

What Drives Chemical Reactions?

Enthalpy, energy cycles, fuels and — for HL — entropy and spontaneity.

23 notes▾

Measuring Enthalpy Change

5 notes▾
The Difference Between Heat and Temperature→ Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions→ Energy Profile Diagrams→ Standard Enthalpy Changes→ Calorimetry→

Energy Cycles

7 notes▾
Bond Enthalpy Calculations→ Hess’s Law→ Applying Hess’s Law→ Enthalpy Changes from Formation Data (HL)→ Enthalpy Changes from Combustion Data (HL)→ Born-Haber Cycles (HL)→ Born-Haber Cycle Calculations (HL)→

Energy from Fuels and Combustion

6 notes▾
Combustion Reactions→ Incomplete Combustion→ Carbon Dioxide from Burning Fuels→ CO2 Levels and the Greenhouse Effect→ Biofuels→ Fuel Cells→

Entropy and Spontaneity

5 notes▾
Entropy (HL)→ Calculating Standard Entropy Changes (HL)→ Gibbs Free Energy (HL)→ Spontaneous Reactions (HL)→ Gibbs Free Energy and the Equilibrium Constant (HL)→
5

How Much, How Fast & How Far?

Reacting quantities, reaction kinetics and equilibrium, extended for HL.

28 notes▾

How Much? Quantifying Chemical Change

7 notes▾
Balancing Chemical Equations→ Reacting Masses→ Avogadro’s Law and Molar Gas Volume→ Calculating Concentration→ Limiting and Excess Reactants→ Percentage Yield→ Atom Economy→

How Fast? The Rate of Reaction

14 notes▾
The Rate of Reaction→ Measuring Reaction Rates→ Collision Theory→ Factors Affecting Reaction Rate→ Activation Energy→ Energy Profiles With and Without Catalysts→ Maxwell-Boltzmann Distributions→ The Rate Equation (HL)→ Reaction Orders (HL)→ The Rate Constant (HL)→ Reaction Mechanisms (HL)→ Molecularity (HL)→ The Arrhenius Equation (HL)→ Determining Activation Energy and the Arrhenius Factor (HL)→

How Far? The Position of Equilibrium

7 notes▾
Features of Dynamic Equilibrium→ The Equilibrium Law→ The Equilibrium Constant, Kc→ Le Chatelier’s Principle→ The Reaction Quotient (HL)→ Equilibrium Law Problem Solving (HL)→ The Equilibrium Constant and Gibbs Energy (HL)→
6

What Are the Mechanisms of Chemical Change?

Proton transfer, electron transfer and organic mechanisms, extended for HL.

46 notes▾

Proton Transfer

17 notes▾
Bronsted-Lowry Acids and Bases→ Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs→ Amphiprotic Species→ The pH Scale→ The Ionic Product of Water→ Strong and Weak Acids→ Neutralisation Reactions→ pH Titration Curves→ Interpreting pH Curves (HL)→ The pOH Scale (HL)→ Acid and Base Dissociation Constants (HL)→ Solving Acid-Base Dissociation Problems (HL)→ Salt Hydrolysis (HL)→ Acid-Base Indicators (HL)→ Choosing an Acid-Base Indicator (HL)→ Buffer Solutions (HL)→ Buffer Calculations (HL)→

Electron Transfer

15 notes▾
Oxidation and Reduction→ Writing Half-Equations→ Relative Ease of Redox→ Acids with Reactive Metals→ Primary Cells→ Secondary Cells→ Electrolytic Cells→ Oxidation of Alcohols→ Reducing Carboxylic Acids, Aldehydes and Ketones→ Reducing Unsaturated Compounds→ The Hydrogen Electrode (HL)→ Standard Cell Potentials (HL)→ Gibbs Energy and Standard Cell Potential (HL)→ Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions (HL)→ Electroplating (HL)→

Electron Sharing

3 notes▾
Free Radicals→ Homolytic Fission→ Halogenation of Alkanes→

Electron Pair Sharing

11 notes▾
Nucleophilic Substitution→ Heterolytic Fission→ Electrophilic Addition→ Lewis Acids and Bases (HL)→ Lewis Acid and Base Reactions (HL)→ Coordination Bonds (HL)→ Nucleophilic Substitution in Halogenoalkanes (HL)→ Relative Rates of Nucleophilic Substitution (HL)→ Mechanisms of Electrophilic Addition (HL)→ Addition to Unsymmetrical Alkenes (HL)→ Electrophilic Substitution in Benzene (HL)→
7

Tools

The practical, technological and mathematical skills that underpin chemistry.

9 notes▾

Tool 1 — Experimental Techniques

3 notes▾
Safety, Ethical and Environmental Considerations→ Measuring Variables→ Applying Practical Techniques→

Tool 2 — Technology

2 notes▾
Using Technology to Collect Data→ Using Technology to Process Data→

Tool 3 — Mathematics

4 notes▾
Applying General Mathematics→ Units, Symbols and Numerical Values→ Working with Uncertainties→ Graphing Skills→
8

The Inquiry Process

Exploring, designing, collecting data and evaluating across an investigation.

6 notes▾

Inquiry 1 — Exploring and Designing

3 notes▾
Exploring→ Designing Investigations→ Controlling Variables→

Inquiry 2 — Collecting and Processing Data

3 notes▾
Collecting Data→ Processing Data→ Interpreting Results→

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