Uganda Senior Four Chemistry Curriculum

This curriculum is designed to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand and apply chemical concepts and principles in various contexts. It emphasizes a competency-based approach, focusing on the application of knowledge rather than mere acquisition. The curriculum aims to develop learners into self-assured individuals, responsible citizens, lifelong learners, and positive contributors to society.

Level One

Term 1

• Chemistry and Society: This topic explores the application of chemistry in everyday life, its contribution to the economy, and related career paths. Learners investigate common chemicals in various products and industries, and analyze the importance of chemistry in different fields.
• Experimental Chemistry: This topic introduces learners to laboratory rules and safety procedures, risk assessment, and the use of common laboratory equipment. Learners conduct investigations using measuring cylinders, separating funnels, thermometers, Bunsen burners, and balances. They learn to select appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials for measuring time, temperature, mass, and volume.
• States and Changes of States of Matter: Learners explore the properties of solids, liquids, gases, and plasma, and the kinetic theory of matter. They investigate changes of state, including melting, boiling, and diffusion, and learn to explain these phenomena using the particle theory.
• Temporary and Permanent Changes: This topic distinguishes between temporary (reversible) and permanent (irreversible) changes in matter. Learners investigate various changes, such as boiling and condensing water, heating and cooling candle wax, and rusting iron, and classify them accordingly.
• Mixtures, Elements and Compounds: Learners explore the characteristics of mixtures, elements, and compounds. They investigate methods for determining the purity of substances using melting and boiling points. They also devise ways of obtaining pure substances from mixtures, including filtration, evaporation, and crystallization.

Term 2

• Air, Water and the Environment: This topic examines the composition of air, the impact of air pollution, and the properties and importance of water. Learners explore the water cycle, water treatment processes, and the causes and prevention of water pollution.
• Rocks and Minerals: Learners investigate the formation, characteristics, and uses of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. They identify the physical properties of rocks and minerals, and explore the process of weathering and its impact on soil formation.
• Acids, Alkalis and Salts: This topic explores the properties and applications of acids, alkalis, and salts in everyday life. Learners investigate the concept of pH, neutralization reactions, and the uses of common salts.
• Atomic Structure, the Periodic Table and its Trends: Learners delve into the structure of atoms, including sub-atomic particles and their properties. They explore the organization of the periodic table, the classification of elements, and trends in physical and chemical properties across periods and groups.

Term 3

• Carbon in Life: This topic examines the diversity of carbon compounds in living things and materials derived from them. Learners explore homologous series, functional groups, and the properties and uses of common organic compounds, including ethanol, sucrose, and ethanoic acid. They also investigate fossil fuels, their origins, uses, and impact on the environment.
• Carbon in the Environment: Learners explore the difference between renewable and non-renewable fuels and the impact of burning carbon-based fuels on the environment. They investigate the properties and uses of carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, and their effect on climate. They also explore the origin and softening of hard water in limestone areas and the properties and uses of allotropes of carbon.

Level Two

Term 1

• Chemical Bonding and Structure: This topic explores how atoms join together to form compounds through ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds. Learners investigate the relationship between bonding and the physical properties of materials.
• The Mole Concept: Learners delve into the concepts of relative atomic mass, relative molecular mass, and the mole. They analyze the relationship between moles, mass, and volume of substances, and interpret chemical equations.

Term 2

• Chemical Reaction Rates: Learners investigate the factors affecting the rate of chemical reactions, including temperature, concentration, and particle size. They also explore reversible reactions and their importance in industrial processes.
• Oxidation, Reduction, Reactivity Series and Electrochemistry: This topic explores oxidation and reduction reactions, the reactivity series of metals, and electrolysis. Learners investigate the extraction and purification of metals and the applications of electrolysis.

Term 3

• Energy Changes During Chemical Reactions: Learners investigate endothermic and exothermic reactions and the concept of heat of reaction. They interpret energy profiles of chemical reactions and explore the importance of these reactions in everyday life.
• Chemicals for Consumers: This topic examines the properties and uses of chemicals in everyday products, including soap, detergents, food additives, and medicines. Learners evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of these chemicals.
• Nuclear Processes: Learners explore atomic structure, nuclear fission and fusion, radioactivity, and the uses and dangers associated with nuclear processes. They also investigate the concept of half-life and the applications of radioactivity.