Chameleon bubbles are formed when a sodium alginate solution is dropped into a calcium chloride solution.  The bubbles are filled by an acid‐base indicator solution; so, adding the beads to acids or bases leads to colour changes inside the bubbles by diffusion and pH change. Students can learn about acids, bases,...

The chemical garden is a well‐established experiment from the chemistry of salts, solubility, diffusion, and solutions. The nice thing is that if metal salts are put in sodium water glass solution, it can lead to an effect reminiscent of plants growing. This growing process can be observed and analysed. In the end...

A balance is set up with two pieces of iron wool. One piece is set alight: it appears to be getting smaller but, mysteriously, the balance tips the other way.

Curriculum links include chemical...

This resource was designed to help students, aged 11-13, build up their notes while working through Stage IA of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The plan was that students would record their work on blank sheets inserted to face each printed page. In this way the authors hoped that students would build up...

This resource was designed to help students, aged 11-13, build up their notes while working through Stage IB of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The plan was that students would record their work on blank sheets inserted to face each printed page. In this way the authors hoped that students would build up...

This resource was designed to help students, aged 14-16, build up their notes while working through Stage II of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The plan was that students would record their work on blank sheets inserted to face each printed page. In this way the authors hoped that students would build up...

This resource was designed to help students aged 15-16 to build up their notes while working through selected options in Stage III of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The plan was that students would record their work on blank sheets inserted to face each printed page. In this way the authors hoped that...

From Solar Spark, this activity allows students to see how chlorophyll can be energised and how this causes it to fluoresce. Chlorophyll in plant leaves absorb red light and pass the energy on to other parts of the plant, hence leaves look green. But if there is nowhere for the energy to go, it gets released as...

Two translucent liquids are mixed. At first, nothing happens: the resulting solution is still translucent. Suddenly, with no warning, the solution turns blue-black all at once.

Curriculum links include redox reactions, rate of reaction, kinetics

This Salters’ Chemistry Course unit from the University of York Science Education Group covered:
* The properties and structures of the fibres used to make clothing
* The care of fabrics
* Modification of the properties of fabrics.

A Year Ten module from the Salters’ double award science course. Exercises on codes and signalling methods introduce ideas about communication. A study of the ear leads to sound communication systems such as radio and telephones. Lenses are studied and the formation of...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). It is based on two specially developed resources produced by SEP: the Optical Signal Transmission Set and the Analogue/Digital Transmission...

In this activity, students plan an investigation to compare two clinical thermometers or two blood pressure devises.   They will need to investigate:

• the key features needed by a clinical thermometer or blood pressure monitor. The generic features required by physiological measuring devices are...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Composites are made by physically combining two or more materials. Many composite materials are used to provide strength and rigidity while using thinner, lighter components. However, they...

A Year Ten module from the Salters’ double award science course. A surveyor’s report on a proposed barn conversion is used to introduce different materials used in construction and issues associated with their use. The lessons which follow then consider each type of...