Chemistry Kenya Form 1 Syllabus

Introduction to Chemistry
1. Introduction to Chemistry
  1. Properties of matter
  2. States of matter
  3. Mixtures and their separations
  4. Conductors and non-conductors of electricity
  5. Mention of drugs (prescription, dosage and abuse)
  6. Chemistry and the society
  7. Definition of Chemistry and its roles in the society
  8. Chemistry laboratory
  9. Heating apparatus (Bunsen burner, spirirt lamp, candle gas or kerosene stove and electric heater
  10. Parts of a Bunsen burner and its flame
  11. Measuring apparatus(volume, temperature,mass, time)
  12. Other apparatus (glass ware, spatula, deflagrating spoon, crucible, wire gauze etc)
  13. Laboratory safety rules
Simple Classification of Substances
1. Simple Classification of Substances
  1. Separation of mixtures
  2. Filtration, evaporation and condensation
  3. Distillation (Simple and fractional), chromatography, solvent extraction as a method of extracting oil from nut seeds, crystallization, separation by using separating funnel, sublimation and decantation
  4. Simple criteria for purity; melting point and boiling point
  5. Effects of heat on substances
  6. States of matter( solid, liguid, gases); The Kinetic theory
  7. Melting and boiling,condensation and evaporation of liquids in terms of kinetic theory
  8. Permanent and non-permanent changes(illustrate using iodine, wax, copper (II) sulphate crystals, potassium manganate (VII), zinc (II) oxide etc
  9. Constituents of matter: Elements, atoms, molecules and compounds
  10. Names and symbols of common elements
  11. Simple word equations
  12. Applications:Fractional distillation of crude oil and liquid air, salt extraction, dry cleaning, obtaining cream from milk
Acids, Bases and Indicators
1. Acids, Bases and Indicators
  1. Acid/Base indicators
  2. Plant-extracts as simple acid - base indicators pH scale
  3. Acidic. neutral and basic/alkaline solutions illustrated by the use of the following examples; water, aqueous solution/suspension; lemon juice, soap, wood ash, baking powder, anti-acid tablets and powders, toothpaste, sour milk, ammonia, ammonium sulphate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, carbon (IV) oxide, sulphur (IV) oxide, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, calcium hydroxide and magnesium oxide.
  4. Simple properties of acids and bases
  5. Reaction of dilute acids with metals, metal oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogen carbonates
  6. Effects of acids on substances
  7. Applications: Uses of acids and bases
Air and Combustion
1. Air and Combustion
  1. Composition of air
  2. Approximate percentage of Nitrogen and oxygen in air by volume(mention of carbon dioxide and noble gases as other constituents of air)
  3. Quantitative determinative of oxygen in air using copper, iron findings and burning candle
  4. Burning of substances in air; carbon, sulphur, phosphorus (CARE) sodium and copper
  5. Oxygen as an active part of air (mass changes involved)
  6. Fractional distillation of liquefied air
  7. Rusting: conditions, composition and prevention
  8. Oxygen Introduction
  9. Laboratory preparation of oxygen using 20 volume by volume (v/v) hydrogen peroxide with manganese (IV) oxide or reaction of sodium peroxide with water (relate methods of collection to the properties of the gas)
  10. Properties of oxygen; physical and chemical
  11. Combustion of elements in oxygen (metals and non-metals)
  12. Competition of combined oxygen illustrated by the reaction of magnesium with carbon (IV) oxide, lead (II) oxide and copper (II) oxide
  13. Atmospheric pollution due to burning in oxygen
  14. Reactivity Series
  15. Order of reactivity of elements from reaction with oxygen: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, lead and copper. (It is not possible to establish full series practically)
  16. Uses: oxy-acetylene in welding; life support functions
  17. Applications: Extraction of metals (use the concept of reactivity series only)
Water and Hydrogen
1. Water and Hydrogen
  1. Sources of water: Burning of organic matter e.g. burning candle in air (test for carbon(IV) oxide and water vapour using calcium hydroxide and cobalt chloride paper or anhydrous copper (II) sulphate respectively)
  2. Water has an oxide of hydrogen
  3. Reaction of sodium, calcium, magnesium with cold water and reaction of magnesium, zinc, iron with steam.
  4. Laboratory preparation of hydrogen by reacting a metal with a dilute acid. (relate methods of collection to properties of the gas). Test for hydrogen
  5. Properties of hydrogen: physical and chemical
  6. Oxidation and reduction (oxygen gain and removal only) e.g. in metal oxide-hydrogen reaction. (Caution: experiments involving the burning of hydrogen gas are explosive).
  7. Hydrogen uses (manufacture of margarine, rocket fuels, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, Oxy-hydrogen flame for welding and weather balloons.