Atoms and ions

The model of the atom we used at GCSE is not sufficient for A level but it is really important to have an appreciation for how different models of the atom were developed, based on the experimental evidence of the time, and who the key players were. You can find a great overview on TedEd.

We also need to understand that different models serve different purposes and it is still preferable to use an older, solar system model to explain simple bonding, for example or perhaps Dalton’s very simple model to explain the geometry of a crystal. However, if we want to explain the intricacies of emission spectroscopy, we will need to turn to Bohr and Schrödinger.

Nuclear fusion reactions