A Power Point on the electrolysis of copper (II) sulfate using carbon electrodes. Begins with a starter activity to get students thinking about ion present in ionic compounds then focuses of aqueous copper (II) sulfate. Designed to accompany a short practical session with students predicting what they think will happen. Electrode equations are covered and the preferential discharge of cations is linked to the reactivity series. Suitable for GCSE/iGCSE chemistry students.

Here´s a PPT for use with Y9 students (UK curriculum) to introduce the idea of complete and incomplete combustion of fuels. The starter is an “unscramble the fuel” exercise. The standard demo of burning a fuel and passing the combustion products through a U-tube and limewater is part of this lesson. The chemical equation for the combustion of propane is illustrated using ball and stick diagrams and this also helps to emphasize the idea of a balanced equation. Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons is touched on at the end of the presentation. Depending on the length of your lessons this could be done all in one go or split between lessons. Enjoy! No More Isotopes

Here´s the second in a series of three “End of Year” challenges that I have used with Y10 chemistry groups over the years. This one involves the extraction of copper from malachite, which the students will probably have met at KS3, but in this activity they are given a chance to develop their own ideas and apply extra knowledge and techniques they will have learnt since then. The PowerPoint introduces the challenge and again refers to the difference between hazards and risks. Each group is given 5g of powdered copper carbonate, although there is no reason why you shouldn´t give them malachite itself, and a range of other reagents with at least one red herring! To decide which team wins the challenge there is a scoring system based on the purity, dryness, quantity etc of the copper produced - see the spreadsheet. Also included in this pack is a student requisition sheet and a technicians sheet. As with Challenge (I), the Chemical Clock, sudents will need time to plan and trial their ideas and this along with the introduction becomes the first lesson. How many more lessons you then give them is entirely up to you. Enjoy ! No More Isotopes

I made these summary sheets a several years ago before the IAL was reviewed. Having looked at the new 2018 specification they do seem to be still relevant to the IAL AS chemistry course. They are the sort of thing that students ought to be producing for themselves, however, some students find this a daunting task, especially if their notes are a bit of a mess! All the students I´ve issued them to in the past have been very appreciative of them; with a few making a far better job of it than I could!! All the sheets were originally done on A3 format so each page is actually one half of A3. The Unit 3 notes are in a booklet form with an extra sheet that I forgot to include when scanned. Sorry, no Unit 1 sheets (not really sure why!) but if ther´s demand I could always make some. Enjoy No More Isotopes

Here´s a simple Power Point that I have used many times with Year 9 students (UK curriculum) to introduce exothermic and endothermic reactions. There are 6 test tube reactions (see the Excel spreadsheet for a printable copy) to be used as part of the practical part of the lesson followed by a task to design a chemical hand warmer that I usually gave as a homework activity (included as a Word document). Enjoy! No More Isotopes

This fuels investigation is a follow on to the combustion lesson posted recently. I have used this with Y9 groups but would advise caution that you only do this activity with students you feel you can trust as there are obvious safety issues. Sometimes in teaching science we have to take risks and this is just one example. Having said that it is good fun and helps students understand some of the complexities of a scientific investigation. The Power Point is deliberately short and very much teacher led. I usually got the students to plan the investigation in one lesson (occasionally do a trial run if time permits) then the following lesson (sometime 2) complete the investigation. You need to be very organised and alert during the fuel testing, rotating groups through the 4 fuels works best. The worksheet is given to students to guide them through reporting the investigation. Enjoy. No More Isotopes

Here´s a bunch of files I´ve used with Y10 iGCSE chemistry students. I call them End of Year Challenges (this is the first of 3) as I typically use them after end of year exams. This one is based on rates of reaction (so you´d really need to have covered that topic) and is similar to an IB Group 4 project from years back. The PowerPoint explains the challenge and the rules. It also touches on the difference between hazard and risk. I get the student to complete a Risk Assessment and a requisition form in the first lesson that introduces the challenge. There´s also a simple spreadsheet to collate the scores. Having this on screen during the challenge motivates students and ads to the competitive atmosphere. I usually play Time by Pink Floyd as they do the prac. and this tends to throw them off track as the piece of music I play for them to time is often obscure but that´s really up to you. Enjoy ! NoMore Isotopes

A Power Point suitable for Y9 students (KS3 UK) to introduce the idea of naming salts formed from different acids. Enjoy! No More Isotopes