Chemical Ideas is one of the two textbooks that were designed to be an integral part of the Salters Advanced Chemistry course. It is published by Heinemann. Chemical Ideas contains the theoretical component of the course. Its counterpart, Chemical Storylines, focuses more on the history, applications and importance of various aspects of chemistry.

A sortable table of contents for Chemical Ideas is available here.

Chapters in Chemical Ideas

Chapter 1: Measuring amounts of substance

Section 1.1: Amount of substance (AS)
Section 1.2: Balanced equations (AS)
Section 1.3: Using equations to work out reacting masses (AS)
Section 1.4: Calculations involving gases (AS)
Section 1.5: Concentrations of solutions (AS)

Chapter 2: Atomic structure

Section 2.1: A simple model of the atom (AS)
Section 2.2: Nuclear reactions (AS)
Section 2.3: Electronic structure: shells (AS)
Section 2.4: Electronic structure: sub-shells and orbitals (AS)

Chapter 3: Bonding, shapes and sizes

Section 3.1: Chemical bonding (AS)
Section 3.2: The size of ions (A2)
Section 3.3: The shapes of molecules (AS)
Section 3.4: Structural isomerism (AS)
Section 3.5: Geometric isomerism (AS)
Section 3.6: Optical isomerism (A2)

Chapter 4: Energy changes and chemical reactions

Section 4.1: Energy in, energy out (AS)
Section 4.2: Where does the energy come from? (AS)
Section 4.3: Entropy and the direction of change (AS)
Section 4.4: Energy, entropy and equilibrium (A2)
Section 4.5: Energy changes in solution (A2)
Section 4.6: Born-Haber cycles (A2)

Chapter 5: Structure and properties

Section 5.1: Ions in solids and solutions (AS)
Section 5.2: Molecules and networks (AS)
Section 5.3: Forces between molecules: temporary and permanent dipoles (AS)
Section 5.4: Forces between molecules: hydrogen bonding (AS)
Section 5.5: The structure and properties of polymers (Part 1:AS, Part 2: A2)
Section 5.6: Bonding, structure and properties: a summary (A2)

Chapter 6: Radiation and matter

Section 6.1: Light and electrons (AS)
Section 6.2: What happens when radiation interacts with matter? (AS)
Section 6.3: Radiation and radicals (AS)
Section 6.4: Infrared spectroscopy (AS)
Section 6.5: Mass spectrometry (AS)
Section 6.6: Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (A2)
Section 6.7: Where does colour come from? (A2)
Section 6.8: Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (A2)
Section 6.9: Chemistry of colour (A2)

Chapter 7: Equilibrium in chemistry

Section 7.1: Chemical equilibrium (AS)
Section 7.2: Equilibria and concentrations (A2)
Section 7.3: Equilibria and partial pressures (A2)
Section 7.4: Partition equilibrium (A2)
Section 7.5: Ion exchange (A2)
Section 7.6: Chromatography (A2)
Section 7.7: Solubility equilibria (A2)

Chapter 8: Acids and bases

Section 8.1: Acid-base reactions (AS)
Section 8.2: Weak acids and pH (A2)
Section 8.3: Buffer solutions (A2)

Chapter 9: Redox

Section 9.1: Oxidation and reduction (AS)
Section 9.2: Redox reactions and electrode potentials (A2)
Section 9.3: Predicting the direction of redox reactions (A2)
Section 9.4: The effect of complexing on redox reactions (A2)

Chapter 10: Rates of reactions

Section 10.1: Factors affecting reaction rates (AS)
Section 10.2: The effect of temperature on rate (AS)
Section 10.3: The effect of concentration on rate (A2)
Section 10.4: What is a catalyst? (AS)
Section 10.5: How do catalysts work? (AS)

Chapter 11: The Periodic Table

Section 11.1: Periodicity (AS)
Section 11.2: The s block: Groups 1 and 2 (AS)
Section 11.3: The p block: nitrogen and Group 5 (A2)
Section 11.4: The p-block: Group 7 (AS)
Section 11.5: The d block: characteristics of transition metals (A2)
Section 11.5: The d block: complex formation (A2)

Chapter 12: Organic chemistry: frameworks

Section 12.1: Alkanes (AS)
Section 12.2: Alkenes (AS)
Section 12.3: Arenes (A2)
Section 12.4: Reactions of arenes (A2)

Chapter 13: Organic chemistry: modifiers

Section 13.1: Halogenoalkanes (AS)
Section 13.2: Alcohols and ethers (AS)
Section 13.3: Carboxylic acids and their derivatives (AS)
Section 13.4: The −OH group in alcohols, phenols and acids (A2)
Section 13.5: Esters (A2)
Section 13.6: Oils and fats (A2)
Section 13.7: Aldehydes and ketones (AS)
Section 13.8: Amines and amides (A2)
Section 13.9: Amino acids (A2)
Section 13.10: Azo compounds (A2)

Chapter 14: Organic synthesis

Section 14.1: Planning a synthesis (A2)
Section 14.2: A summary of organic reactions (A2)

Chapter 15: Managing a chemical process

Section 15.1: The operation of a chemical manufacturing process (A2)
Section 15.2: Feedstocks (A2)
Section 15.3: The best conditions for the process (A2)
Section 15.4: Costs (A2)