What is chemistry?

Chemistry relates to everything around us; food, fuel and materials.  It is challenging in its concepts and exciting in its practical skills.  Chemists use chemicals to modify or develop substances to improve our lives.  Chemists play key roles in meeting the needs of society in fields which include  medicine, food production, cosmetics and material technology.

If you are working on Silver or Gold  level 4 in Chemistry, you should be considering National 5 . If you are only just completing level 3 or working on Bronze level 4 in Chemistry you should be considering National 4 Science.

What skills are developed?

• Practical related (planning, observing, recording, concluding and evaluating)
• Problem solving
• Explaining and understanding things
• Logical thinking
• Numerical manipulation
• Communication (numerical, written and graphical)
• Motivation and taking the lead

What kind of person does it take?

• Ability to apply both practical and theoretical knowledge
• Desire to solve problems
• Good at planning and thinking ahead
• Sets targets and work towards them
• Ability to break big problems into smaller tasks
• Ability to persevere and continually repeat work to ensure it is correct.

Horizons – where can this subject take you?

A career in chemistry is interesting and diverse. It can cover a multitude of different disciplines. It involves continuous learning with modern advances and new discoveries. It often involves working in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, multi-site teams. It is a very worthwhile profession, and the results, when you succeed are incredibly satisfying.

Career options are huge but include:

Medicine, Veterinary, Agrochemical, Engineering, Food science, Biofuels, Petroleum,  Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Environmental, Forensics, Brewing, Quality control, Geology.

Many STEM graduates also enter the finance industry.

Pathways – how can I make progression?

School

• N5 Chemistry, Higher Chemistry, Advanced Higher Chemistry
• Entry requirement for H Chemistry – N5 Mathematics (with a good appreciation of Algebra)
• Entry requirement for AH Chemistry – H Mathematics (with a good appreciation of Logs)

College

• Many diverse courses on offer at Moray College.

Employment

• Opportunities in local employers that offer Apprenticeships—information and opportunities.

University

Chemistry courses on offer at university example

• http://www.chem.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate

Related subjects chemistry works well with:

Maths, Physics, Biology, Geography, Business, Administration, Art