Rates of reaction, energy changes and kinetic changes
Students will have covered some simple experiments and collision theory explanations at GCSE level and so will be coming to this topic with some background understanding. GCSE definitions are refined further in the T level, such as what we mean by a catalyst, and there is the introduction of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution as a new idea. Common misconceptions in this topic include that 'more collisions' lead to an increased rate of reaction, whereas 'more frequent' collisions ( per unit time) is the more correct way of explaining this as there may overall be the same number of collisions but in a different amount of time. Reference to reaction graphs and 'what would happen if?' (we carried on collecting gas until the reaction stopped) questions would help explain this to students, along with an emphasis on the language used in explanations.
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Rates of Reaction and Activation Enthalpy
This resource uses UV beads to look at the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction and is a simple, but visual, way of looking at a concept using an experiment students are unlikely to have seen before. The calculating activation energy strand of the experiment is probably too difficult at this level, but it could be easily mentioned as an idea during the experiment.
Glowsticks
This short video explains the use of the reaction inside glowsticks as a demonstration to introduce the effect of concentration on rates of reaction and links it to exothermic reactions. You could also demonstrate complete glowsticks in different temperatures of water to also look at this factor changing during the same lesson.
Catalysts *suitable for home teaching*
'Catalysts' is a magazine article that looks at catalysts in more detail and is aimed at students aged 14-19. It could be used at the end of the topic with some questions or as the start of a discussion about catalysts in industry and everyday life. There are some useful references to energy profile diagrams and the size of pores in a zeolite catalyst (on the nanoscale) that could be picked up on further.
Rate of reaction: collection of a gas practical
Here is a video of a classic experiment, with some key questions, that could be used as a starting point to assess what students know and can do so far on familiar territory. They could be also asked to name pieces of equipment used in the practical or label the graph produced to explain what is happening at each stage as initial assessment on the topic.