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Higher Chemistry data booklet: every relationship, the tables, and what is not in it

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Formula sheet

The card below opens today's Higher Chemistry paper with the booklet's relationships, its constants and our periodic table in the drawer. The contents follow in our own layout, with a summary of the data tables. For any number in a table, use the official booklet, published in January 2026.

Formula sheet

Higher Chemistry

Open formula sheet

Relationships

E_h=cm\Delta Theat energy to change the temperature of a liquid
\%\ \text{yield}=\frac{\text{actual yield}}{\text{theoretical yield}}\times100percentage yield
n=cVmoles from concentration and volume
n=\frac{m}{\text{GFM}}moles from mass
\frac{c_1V_1}{n_1}=\frac{c_2V_2}{n_2}titration: the volumes and concentrations of two solutions
\text{average rate}=\frac{\Delta\text{quantity}}{\Delta t}average rate of a reaction
\text{reaction rate}=\frac{1}{t}reaction rate from the time taken
\%\ \text{by mass}=\frac{m}{\text{GFM}}\times100percentage by mass
\%\ \text{atom economy}=\frac{\text{mass of desired product(s)}}{\text{total mass of reactants}}\times100percentage atom economy
c=f\lambdawave speed
E=\frac{Lhc}{\lambda}energy of a mole of photons from the wavelength
E=Lhfenergy of a mole of photons from the frequency
K=\frac{[C]^c[D]^d}{[A]^a[B]^b}equilibrium constant for aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD
\text{pH}=-\log_{10}[\text{H}_3\text{O}^+]pH
\text{pOH}=-\log_{10}[\text{OH}^-]pOH
K_w=[\text{H}_3\text{O}^+][\text{OH}^-]ionic product of water
\text{pH}+\text{pOH}=14pH and pOH together
\text{p}K_a=-\log_{10}K_apKa from Ka
\text{pH}=\frac{1}{2}\text{p}K_a-\frac{1}{2}\log_{10}cpH of a weak acid of concentration c
\text{pH}=\text{p}K_a-\log_{10}\frac{[\text{acid}]}{[\text{salt}]}pH of a buffer
K_{In}=\frac{[\text{H}_3\text{O}^+][\text{In}^-]}{[\text{HIn}]}indicator dissociation constant
\text{pH}=\text{p}K_{In}\pm1indicator colour change range
\Delta H^{\circ}=\sum\Delta H_f^{\circ}(\text{products})-\sum\Delta H_f^{\circ}(\text{reactants})enthalpy change from enthalpies of formation
\Delta S^{\circ}=\sum S^{\circ}(\text{products})-\sum S^{\circ}(\text{reactants})entropy change
\Delta G^{\circ}=\sum\Delta G_f^{\circ}(\text{products})-\sum\Delta G_f^{\circ}(\text{reactants})free energy change from free energies of formation
\Delta G^{\circ}=\Delta H^{\circ}-T\Delta S^{\circ}free energy change

Physical constants and properties of water

Data in the booklet

TableWhat it gives
Names, symbols, relative atomic masses and densitiesOne row per element
Melting and boiling points of selected elementsIn degrees Celsius
Covalent radii of selected elementsValues for selected elements
Electron arrangements of elementsThe arrangement for each element
Formulae of selected ions with more than one kind of atomFormula and charge
Solubilities of selected compounds in waterWhich combinations of ions dissolve
Melting and boiling points of selected oxides, chlorides and organic compoundsThree tables, in degrees Celsius
Enthalpies of formation and combustion of selected substancesValues for selected substances
Selected bond and mean bond enthalpiesBond enthalpy values
Enthalpy of sublimation of carbonOne value
Ionisation energies and electronegativities of selected elementsSuccessive ionisation energies and electronegativity values
Electrochemical seriesStandard reduction potentials
Electrolysis of waterData for the electrolysis of water
Dissociation constants of selected speciesDissociation constants
Acid-base indicatorsData for each indicator
Infra-red correlation tableAbsorptions for particular bonds, as wavenumbers
Spectral lines and flame coloursWavelengths and colours
Proton NMR correlation chartChemical shifts for hydrogen in different environments
Ionic radii of selected ionsValues for selected ions
Standard entropy values for selected substancesValues for selected substances
Colour wheelA wheel of colours
SI units, SI prefixes and conversion factorsUnits, multipliers, and litre and kelvin conversions

Here GFM is the gram formula mass, L is the Avogadro constant, h the Planck constant and c the speed of light. In the pH equations, pKa is the acid dissociation exponent, c is the concentration of the acid, and the buffer equation uses the acid and its salt.

What is not in the Higher Chemistry data booklet

  • What the quantities mean. Nothing defines enthalpy of formation, a buffer or the equilibrium constant. The booklet is for numbers and relationships, not definitions.
  • Which one to use. There are two relationships that give moles and two that give pH. Choose by what the question gives.
  • Rearranging, and units. n = cV needs litres, and enthalpy and entropy use different energy units, so convert first.
  • Advanced Higher material. The booklet is shared with Advanced Higher. The Higher specification does not mention infra-red, NMR, entropy or free energy, so expect those sections to be for Advanced Higher.
  • Rate equations. There is no rate equation with orders, and no Arrhenius equation.
  • Skills. Writing equations, naming organic compounds and describing experiments come from your knowledge.

The course specification says a data booklet containing relevant data and formulae is provided.

How the paper uses the booklet

Higher Chemistry changes for 2027. The specification, valid from session 2026 to 2027, gives a single question paper of 100 marks and 2 hours 30 minutes, with 20 marks of multiple choice and 80 of written answers. The assignment is 20 marks, scaled to 25. In the 2027 timetable the exam is on Friday 21 May from 09:00 to 11:30 (Exam Timetable 2027, version 02). Our Higher Chemistry guide covers the course, the assignment and the 2026 boundaries.

Using the booklet under exam pressure

  1. Read what the question gives and what it wants, and convert units.
  2. Pick the relationship from the first page, write it down and substitute.
  3. Look up any constant or data value in the booklet before you decide it is missing.
  4. Give the answer with its unit, to a sensible number of significant figures.

Percentage yield

A reaction should make 12.0 g of product, but 8.4 g is collected. The percentage yield is

\%\ \text{yield}=\frac{8.4}{12.0}\times100=70\%

Practise reaction rates in the Reaction Kinetics course, then press Mark.

Read a table of gas volumes or mass lost and type the mean rate between two times.

Press Mark to have your answer marked in the Reaction Kinetics course.

pH of a strong acid

A 0.010 mol/l solution of hydrochloric acid is fully ionised, so [H₃O⁺] = 0.010 mol/l:

\text{pH}=-\log_{10}(0.010)=2.0

Check it in the pH Calculator.

The equilibrium constant

For N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃, the concentrations at equilibrium are [NH₃] = 0.20, [N₂] = 0.50 and [H₂] = 0.10 mol/l. Write the expression from the equation, with powers equal to the coefficients:

K=\frac{[\text{NH}_3]^2}{[\text{N}_2][\text{H}_2]^3}=\frac{0.20^2}{0.50\times0.10^3}=\frac{0.040}{0.00050}=80

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. Sit the paper with the sheet open beside you, mark it, and the worked answers show which line each question wanted. We do not publish official or past paper answers.

Use the sheet with today's paper

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper for Higher Chemistry. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full SQA paper and not set by SQA. Many schools set a longer prelim in winter: see our prelims guide. Open the sheet, set a timer, and write the line you use at the start of each answer.

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong powers in K. The coefficient of each substance in the balanced equation becomes the power on its concentration.
  • Taking log of the wrong thing. pH uses the concentration of H₃O⁺, and pOH uses OH⁻.
  • Mixing up the yield ratio. Actual is on top, theoretical underneath.
  • Forgetting a unit conversion in free energy. ΔH is in kJ and ΔS is in J, so convert before you subtract.
  • Not checking the booklet for data. Bond enthalpies and electronegativities are given, so do not guess them.

Common questions

Do you get a data booklet in Higher Chemistry?
Yes. The specification says a data booklet containing relevant data and formulae is provided with the question paper.
What is in the Higher Chemistry data booklet?
A page of relationships, then constants and data tables: atomic masses, melting and boiling points, bond and formation enthalpies, ionisation energies, electronegativities, the electrochemical series, dissociation constants, indicators and more.
Is the Higher Chemistry data booklet the same as the Advanced Higher one?
Yes. Qualifications Scotland publishes one booklet for both, titled Higher and Advanced Higher.
Does the Higher Chemistry data booklet give relative atomic masses?
Yes. It lists the names, symbols, relative atomic masses and densities of the elements, and their electron arrangements.
Is the pH equation given?
Yes. pH, pOH, pKa, the weak acid and buffer equations and the indicator relationship are on the relationships page.

Revision cards

Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.

Where to go next

  • Solve it

    pH Calculator

    Calculate pH, pOH and Ka for strong and weak acids

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  • Learn it

    Reaction Kinetics

    Rates, catalysts and collision theory: what makes reactions fast or slow

    Start the course
  • Test it

    Higher Chemistry

    A new exam-style paper every day, with instant marking and a mark scheme

    Start today's paper
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