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What to Expect from Chemistry in 2025
With the 2025 Leaving Cert Chemistry paper fast approaching, we’ve analysed trends from 2020–2024, including deferred papers, to give you the most accurate predictions possible. Here’s everything you should focus on.
Section A – Experiments (3 from 5)
Expect questions on a wide range of definitions and quick calculations. These are ideal for secure marks if you're clear on your terminology, units, and formulae.
📌 Key areas to revise:
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Definitions (e.g., atomic number, isotopes, relative atomic mass)
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Laws and Principles (e.g., Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law)
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Balancing equations and calculations (moles, volumes, pH)
✅ Pro Tip: Study past questions for recurring patterns and formula-based problems.
🧬 Section B – Structured Questions (Q4 to Q7)
This section focuses on understanding and applying principles in a structured format. Expect a blend of organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry.
📌 What’s likely in 2025:
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Organic Chemistry: Expect a strong chance of alcohols, esters, and chromatography.
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Volumetric Analysis: Titration remains a core focus – know both acid-base and redox.
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Rates of Reaction: Frequently tested and conceptually rich.
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Periodic Table Trends: Ionisation energy, atomic radius, etc.
🧠 Remember: Clearly label all diagrams, especially in volumetric analysis and organic structures.
🧪 Section C – Experiments (Q8 to Q10)
Typically 3 experimental questions are asked – usually one from each of Organic, Physical, and Inorganic chemistry.
📌 Top candidates for 2025:
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Volumetric Analysis: Acid-base or redox titration
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Preparation of Ethene/Ethanoic Acid: Highly likely
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Heat of Reaction/Neutralisation
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Water Testing: Hardness, chlorine, pH
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Chromatography: Separation of indicators or food dyes
✅ Pro Tip: Know the glassware, setup diagrams, safety precautions, and typical sources of error.
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📊 What Came Up in 2020–2024?
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been tested most often:
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2024: Equilibrium, pH calculations, Chromatography, Water hardness, Nuclear Chemistry
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2023: Bonding, Heat of Reaction, Organic Synthesis, Titration
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2022: Acids and Bases, Organic Reactions, Atomic Theory, Water Tests
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2021: Periodic Table, Nuclear Chemistry, Heat of Reaction
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2020: Redox, Titration, Organic Structures, pH and indicators
🧠 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the safest bets for 2025?
A: Titration, preparation of ethene or soap, chromatography, and pH-related calculations are likely.
Q: Should I worry about overlap with the deferred paper?
A: Yes – in 2023 and 2024, several questions overlapped with their respective deferred papers. If the 2024 deferred paper is published before your exam, review it carefully.
📄 Deferred Papers – Do They Matter?
Yes – and no. The SEC usually avoids repeating experiments year-to-year. But in 2023, two experiments from the 2023 deferred paper were reused in 2024.
Plus, the 2022 deferred paper had three overlaps with the 2023 paper.
🔍 Watch this space: If the 2024 deferred paper is released soon, study it closely.
