Chemistry

The Programme
"Chlorine is a deadly poison gas employed on European battlefields in World War I. Sodium is a corrosive metal which burns upon contact with water. Together they make a placid and unpoisonous material, table salt. Why each of these substances has the properties it does is a subject called chemistry."
Carl Sagan

In the words of the eminent chemist Sir Jack Baldwin: "Chemistry is about making forms of matter that have never existed before". These new forms of matter, from plastics and detergents to anti-cancer drugs, have an extraordinary impact on the lives of us all. We now take so many of these products for granted it is easy to forget that without chemical knowledge they would not exist.

Chemistry is often referred to as the central science because it joins together physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and the earth and environmental sciences. Knowledge of the nature of chemicals and chemical processes therefore provides insights into a variety of physical and biological phenomena. Knowing something about chemistry is worthwhile because it provides an excellent basis for understanding the physical universe we live in. For better or for worse, everything is chemical!

We have experienced teaching staff and laboratory technicians committed to helping each student fulfil his or her potential. There are continuing links being formed with local industry and Higher Education; for example parts of the A2 practical course have been delivered at GlaxoSmithKline at Barnard Castle and at the University of Durham.

Requirements
A minimum requirement of two grade Bs from higher GCSE Science qualifications and a grade B in GCSE Mathematics are needed to study Chemistry at AS/A2 level. The practical skills you have developed at GCSE are important and will be developed further in the sixth form, providing good training for post-18 practical science courses.

Next Steps:
Chemistry qualifications are needed for entry into Environmental Sciences, Medicine, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Sciences and the rapidly growing field of Chemical Engineering. From the training gained at Carmel many students have gone on to gain high quality First degrees, followed by research and PhDs. Students from Carmel have gone on to work for the NHS, NASA, Mobil Oil, GlaxoSmithKline, and many other highly rated science based companies.

From the training gained at Carmel man students have gone on to gain high quality
First degrees, followed by research and PhDs.

Students from Carmel have gone on to work for Mobil Oil, GlaxoSmithKline, NASA, British Steel and many more highly rated science based companies.