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IGCSE Chemistry (0620) Syllabus: Every Chapter & Topic (2026)

PapaMarks Team · July 17, 2026 · 7 min read

#IGCSE #Chemistry #0620 #Syllabus #Topics #Revision

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) spans twelve chapters, from the particle behaviour behind States of Matter all the way through to Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis. This complete syllabus map lays every chapter and topic out in order so you can plan your revision, spot the gaps you've been avoiding, and jump straight from any topic to focused practice.

⚡ The 60-second version

0620 is built from 12 chapters: States of Matter, Atoms & Compounds, Stoichiometry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Energetics, Chemical Reactions, Acids/Bases/Salts, the Periodic Table, Metals, Chemistry of the Environment, Organic Chemistry and Experimental Techniques.
The subject is roughly three strands: physical (moles, energetics, rates, electrochemistry), inorganic (periodic table, metals, environment) and organic chemistry — plus the practical skills that run through all of them.
Stoichiometry (moles) is the highest-value chapter — it underpins calculations across the whole paper, so master it early.
Aiming for an A* means the Extended tier: half-equations, mole calculations to more steps, and deeper explanation questions.
Every leaf topic below links to practice — use the map to build a checklist, not just to read.

States of Matter

The foundation of the whole course: how particles behave in solids, liquids and gases, and how that explains everyday changes.

Solids, Liquids & Gases

Atoms, Elements & Compounds

The structure of atoms and the different ways they bond — ionic, covalent and metallic — and how bonding explains a substance's properties.

Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table

Ions & Ionic Bonds

Simple Molecules & Covalent Bonds

Giant Structures

Stoichiometry

The mathematical backbone of chemistry: formulae, balanced equations, and the mole — the tool that connects mass, amount and reacting quantities.

Formulae & Relative Masses

The Mole & the Avogadro Constant

Electrochemistry

How electricity drives chemical change — electrolysis of molten and aqueous compounds, half-equations, and the real-world applications that follow.

Electrolysis

Applications of Electrolysis

Chemical Energetics

Where the energy goes: exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy changes, and the bond-breaking versus bond-forming balance that explains them.

Exothermic & Endothermic Reactions

Chemical Reactions

Rates, reversible reactions and redox — the dynamics of how and how fast reactions happen, and the electron transfer underneath them.

Chemical Change & Rate of Reaction

Reversible Reactions & Equilibrium

Redox

Acids, Bases & Salts

The behaviour of acids and alkalis, proton transfer, and the practical routes to preparing soluble and insoluble salts.

Characteristic Properties of Acids & Bases

Preparation of Salts

The Periodic Table

How the table is organised and the trends that let you predict an element's properties from its position.

The Periodic Table & Trends

Group Properties & Trends

Metals

The properties and uses of metals and alloys, the reactivity series, corrosion, and how metals are extracted from their ores.

Properties, Uses & Alloys of Metals

Reactivity Series & Corrosion

Extraction of Metals

Chemistry of the Environment

Water quality and treatment, air pollution, greenhouse gases and the chemistry behind today's environmental issues.

Water & Water Pollution

Air Quality & Climate

Organic Chemistry

The chemistry of carbon compounds: naming and functional groups, the main homologous series, their reactions, and polymers.

Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

Organic Families

Polymers

Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

The practical toolkit: measuring accurately, separating and purifying mixtures, and identifying ions and gases by test.

Experimental Techniques

Separation & Purification

Identification of Ions & Gases

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Moles and equations are the backbone. More of this syllabus depends on Stoichiometry than any other single chapter — balancing equations, reacting masses, concentrations and titrations all trace back to the mole. If your calculations are shaky, that's the first place to drill, because it quietly pays off in Electrochemistry, Acids/Bases/Salts and Chemical Reactions too.

How to use this syllabus map

Build a checklist
Work down the twelve chapters and rate each leaf topic red, amber or green. The reds and ambers are your revision plan — no guesswork.
Lead with the calculation chapters
Get Stoichiometry solid early, then Electrochemistry and Acids/Bases/Salts, so the maths never bottlenecks you later.
Practise each topic, don't just read it
Click through to a topic and answer real questions until it's automatic. Chemistry rewards doing, not re-reading.
Target the Extended tier for an A*
Prioritise half-equations, multi-step mole problems and explanation questions — that's where the top grades are decided.

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Turn the map into marks: work through past papers with instant AI marking, check which areas come up most in our most-tested topics breakdown, and follow the game plan in how to get an A* in IGCSE Chemistry 0620. If the numbers are your weak spot, start with our guide to mole calculations.

FAQ

How many topics are in IGCSE Chemistry 0620?

The Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus is organised into 12 chapters, which break down into just over 100 individual topics in our library — everything from Kinetic Theory to Identification of Gases. This map lists all of them, each linking to practice.

What are the main chapters in IGCSE Chemistry?

The 12 chapters are States of Matter; Atoms, Elements & Compounds; Stoichiometry; Electrochemistry; Chemical Energetics; Chemical Reactions; Acids, Bases & Salts; the Periodic Table; Metals; Chemistry of the Environment; Organic Chemistry; and Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis. They fall into physical, inorganic and organic strands plus practical skills.

Is IGCSE Chemistry hard?

It's very manageable once the fundamentals click. The part students find hardest is Stoichiometry — moles, equations and calculations — because it's used everywhere. Get comfortable with those early and the rest of the syllabus, which rewards clear definitions and practice, becomes much more approachable.

Which Chemistry topics are most important?

Stoichiometry is the highest-value chapter because moles and balanced equations underpin so much of the paper. Beyond that, Atomic Structure & Bonding, Acids/Bases/Salts, the Periodic Table and Organic Chemistry are heavily examined. For a data-led ranking, see our most-tested IGCSE Chemistry 0620 topics post.

What's the difference between Core and Extended in 0620?

Core covers grades C to G, while Extended covers A* to G and includes extra content and harder calculation and explanation questions. An A* is only available on the Extended tier, so if you're aiming high, make Extended-level questions the bulk of your practice.

Use this map as your control panel for IGCSE Chemistry 0620: tick off every chapter, lead with the mole calculations that hold the subject together, and turn each topic into practised marks on real past papers. Cover the whole syllabus deliberately and there'll be no nasty surprises on exam day.

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