Chemistry

Chemistry
See sample interview questions under ‘Natural sciences’.
Essential A levels Chemistry and usually maths or physics. Some courses ask for
chemistry, maths and physics, while some prefer chemistry, maths and biology.
Chance of being interviewed Most universities will make offers based on the content of
the UCAS Apply, but a significant minority still interview.
What you need to know
You will probably be asked questions on what you have studied at A level.
Any extra reading of scientific journals and knowledge about science issues in the
news would go down well with interviewers.
Try to find out about the practical applications of chemistry, such as food science or
the pharmaceutical industry.
Cogent is the Sector Skills Council for the chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oil and
gas, petroleum and polymer industries. Visit www.cogent-ssc.org.
Visit www.rsc.org.
Sample interview questions
Why do you want to study chemistry
What is your favourite topic in chemistry Why do you like it
What kind of career are you considering after finishing your chemistry degree
Why is sodium chloride soluble in water and barium sulphate insoluble
What do you get if you react benzene with chlorine
How do you know that carbon forms a tetrahedral structure
What reactions do halogenoalkanes undergo and why
Draw some half-cells and discuss redox equilibria.
What is special about transition metal compounds
Why is copper sulphate blue
How can you tell that sodium chloride is bonded ionically
What is a covalent bond
What is the most recent chemistry experiment you have carried out Describe it.
Compare bonding in N 2 to P 4 .
Compare bonding in NaCl (common salt) to diamond.
What are your views on animal testing
Compare Flourine’s compounds to Caesium’s compounds.
Draw propanone. Show its reactions with H + /OH -
Compare acid chlorides and amides.
Use a phase diagram to understand how changing conditions induce state changes in
water.
Discuss why water’s phase diagram differs from other liquids.
What are the mechanisms for nucleophilic substitution
What is the measure of acid strength
How many molecules are there in this glass of water

NaCl has a cubic structure with a spacing of 0.24nm between each ion. Use this to
calculate an estimate for its density.
Assuming that carbon is 99% 12 C and hydrogen is 99.99% 1 H, what is the probability
that a molecule of C n H 2n+2 has exactly K 12 C atoms and L 1 H atoms
What is entropy
If you didn’t have an indicator, how can you test the pH and equivalence point of a
titration
What nitrogen oxides do you know Explain the structure of nitrogen monoxide and
explain the significance of its unpaired electron.
What is the importance of chirality in Chemistry
Students’ comments
‘I was asked lots of A level chemistry questions, which I hadn’t expected at all.’
‘Both my interviews were subject based. One was organic and the other physical and
inorganic. I was asked to discuss a topic of my choice and they developed it from
there. The questions asked were quite demanding because they wanted you to answer
in depth. They didn’t want plain facts – they wanted you to think why things happen,
apply your existing knowledge and predict reactions you hadn’t come across before.’