In junior secondary school, Basic Science gives students a broad understanding of the natural world, including the basics of physics, chemistry, and biology. When students move to Senior Secondary School 1 (SSS1), the focus shifts to Chemistry, which becomes more detailed and specialized.
In SS1 Chemistry, students dive deeper into topics like atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, and stoichiometry, and this is achieved using the carefully designed Lagos state unified scheme of work for SSS1. While Basic Science involves simple experiments, SS1 Chemistry focuses on more complex experiments, where students learn advanced lab skills such as precise measurement and detailed observation.
By the end of SS1, students will have a strong foundation in Chemistry, preparing them for more advanced topics in the future.
In senior secondary school 1, students are assessed in Chemistry based on the school’s prerogative. However, typically, they are evaluated through tests or quizzes (Continuous Assessment Tests), practical exercises, and end-of-term exams.
Grading follows a scale from A to F, with A representing excellent performance, typically scoring around 70% or 80%, and F indicating failure, usually below 50% or 45%.
| LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION: UNIFIED SCHEMES OF WORK FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS | ||
| Chemistry Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary Schools 1(SSS1) | ||
| Class | S.S.S 1 | |
| Subject | Chemistry | |
| Term | First Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| THEME: INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY | ||
| 1 | Introduction to Chemistry I | (1) Meaning of chemistry. (2) Career prospects tied to chemistry. (3) Application (hospital, military, teaching, chemical and petrochemical industries, space agriculture etc.) |
| 2 | Introduction to Chemistry II | (1) Adverse effects of chemicals, drug, abuse, poisoning, corrosion, pollution. (2) The scientific methods. |
| THEME: THE CHEMICAL WORLD | ||
| 3 | Particulate nature of matter I | (1) Define physical and chemical changes. (2) Comparing the characteristics of physical and chemical changes. (3) Define elements compounds and mixtures. (4) Definition of atoms and molecules. |
| 4 | Particulate nature of matter II | (1) Dalton’s atomic theory. (2) Atomic structure (3) Constituents of atoms, protons, neutrons and electrons. (4) Arrangement of electrons around the nucleus. (5) Atomic number mass number and isotropy (6) Relative atomic masses based on C-14 isotope. |
| THEME: INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY | ||
| 5 | Symbols Formulae and Equations I | 1) Chemical symbols of elements. (2) Valency-Definition of valencies- Valencies of elements and radicals-Writing formulae from valencies. (3) Empirical and molecular formulae. (4) Law of conservation of matter. |
| 6 | Symbols Formulae and Equations II | (1) Law of constants composition. (2) Law of multiple proportion. (3) Chemical equations. |
| 7 | Chemical Combinations I | (1) Period table (first) 20 elements only. (2) Electronic configuration of atoms. |
| 8 | Chemical Combinations II | (1) Types of bond a strong bond e.g. electrovalent (ionic).-Covalent-Co-ordinance covalent (dative bonds)-Metallic bonds (2) Weak bonds e.g. hydrogen bond-Van-dar Waals forces |
| 9 | Chemical Combinations III | 1) Systems of naming compounds.-Conventional-IUPAC (2) Any of these 2 naming systems is acceptable at this level. |
| 10 | Chemical Combination IV | (1) State of matter-Solid-Liquid-Gaseous state- The kinetic theory and its application |
| 11 | REVISION | |
| 12 | EXAMINATION | |
| Term | Second Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| THEME: THE CHEMICAL WORLD | ||
| 1 | Gas laws | (1) Boyle’s law (2) Charles law (3) General gas equation. (4) Gay-Lussac’s law |
| 2 | Gas laws | (1) Avogadro’s law (2) Ideal gas equation. (3) Graham’s law (4) Molar volume of gases. |
| 3 | Gas laws | (1) Avogadro number and the mole concept. (2) Calculations based on the gas laws |
| 4 | Standard Separation Techniques for Mixtures. I | (1) Classification of substances (2) Filtration (3) Evaporation (4) Decantation (5) Floatation (6) Frostation. |
| 5 | Standard Separation Techniques for Mixtures. II | (1) Crystallization and fractional crystallization. (2) Distillation and fractional distillation. (3) Precipitation. (4) Magnetism |
| 6 | Standard Separation Techniques for Mixtures. III | (1)Chromatography (2) Sublimation (3) Pure and |
| THEME:CHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENT | ||
| 7 | Acids | (1) Acids (2) Characteristics of acids. (3) Types of acid. (4) Preparations of acid. |
| 8 | Bases and Salts I | (1) Bases (2) Characteristics of bases. (3) Preparation of bases (4) Salts. (5) Relative acidity and alkalinity (the PH scale). |
| 9 | Bases and salts II | (1) Deliquescent efflorescent. (2) Hygroscopic substances (3) Solubility of salts in water. |
| 10 | Water | (1) Sources of water (2) Types of water (soft and hard water) (3) Water pollutants (4) Use of water (5) Laboratory preparation of water. |
| 11 | Revision | |
| 12 | Examination | |
| Term | Third Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| THEME: THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE | ||
| 1 | Carbon and its compounds I | (1) Definition of carbon (2) Structure of carbon. (3) Allotropes of carbon (4) Diamond (5) Graphite (6) Charcoal |
| 2 | Carbon and its compounds II | (1) Structure and properties and allotropes. (2) The combustion of carbon allotropes. |
| 3 | Carbon and its compounds III | (1) Coal (2) Different types of coal. (3) Industrial distillation of coal. (4) Uses of products. |
| 4 | Carbon and it compounds IV | 1) Coke (2) Gasification and uses. (3) Carbon (iv) oxide and carbon monoxide (carbon (ii) oxide). |
| THEME: CHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENT | ||
| 5 | Carbon and it compounds V | Synthetic gas:-Manufacture and carbon uses. |
| 6 | Carbon and it compounds VI | (1) Carbonic acid (trioxicarbonate (iv) salt. (3)Preparation of trioxocarbonate (iv). |
| 7 | Carbon and it compounds VII | (1) Hydrocarbon and its main classes and source of hydrocarbons (2) Crude oil and natural gas (3) Importance of hydrocarbons. |
| THEME: CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRY | ||
| 8 | Chemical Industries I | (1) What is chemical industry? (2) Types of chemical industries. (3) Importance to the individual. |
| 9 | Chemical Industries II | 1) Exclusion to chemical industries (2) Raw material used in the chemical industries and their sources. |
| 10 | Chemical Industries III | (1) Division of the chemical industries, heavy chemical. (2) Fine chemical (3) Fertilizers (4) Plastics (5) Metallurgy (6) Pharmaceutical |
| 11 | Revision | |
| 12 | Examination | |
The recommended Chemistry textbooks for SSS1 include but are not limited to the following:
New Age Press Ltd SS 1-3
Cambridge University Press SS1-3
Learn Africa SS 1-3
Mid-Field SS1-3
Africana First Publisher SS 1-3
University Press SS 1-3
