This lesson is the third in the atomic structure scheme of work for the 2016 AQA specification. The two previous lessons are on elements, compounds and mixtures and balancing equations. The theme of the lesson is separating cannabis chemicals in order to extract TetraHydroCannabinol (THC). This is part of a group of chemicals called 'cannabinoids' and is used as an oral spray called Sativex that treats multiple sclerosis. The lesson starts with students listing 3 reasons for and 3 reasons against legalising cannabis. There is a YouTube video showing a 3 minute BBC News report that is embedded. The link is included in the PowerPoint. Students then use the separating mixtures trump cards to state what method they would use for each stage of extracting THC. They carry out a RSC practical to extract 'THC' (it is in fact a combination of chemicals) using a pestle and mortar and the solvent propanone. Though not included in the RSC practical they could filter the solvent to remove any solids. They then use paper chromatography to see whether their sample has a pure chemical. If the chemical is pure there will be a single spot visible on the chromatogram. Students could then dry their chromatograms and calculate the Rf value of their spot. Finally a higher level question is included at the end where students consider the effect of using different solvents. Please rate these resources and leave feedback.

This is a fun Middle School Chemistry tarsia for revision of acids and alkalis. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: indicator, pH meter, pH of different substances, formula of HCl and water. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.

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This is a lesson for A level chemistry on fuel cells. It begins with getting students to consider whether hydrogen would be a good source of energy to power cars for the future. Required learning from previous lessons is electrode potentials and half cells. The hydrogen balloon demo could be shown at the start to get students to appreciate that a lot of energy is released in a short amount of time from a small amount of fuel. Hydrogen produces the most amount of energy per gram for any chemical fuel. Students then draw a diagram to show how the standard electrode potential of an oxygen half cell could be determined - i.e. use a H+ reference electrode in one beaker and connect using a salt bridge to another beaker with O2- ions and O2 gas being bubbled through and using platinum as the electrode. Students then learn that O2 gas is reduced in the presence of H2O (i.e. bubbled through water) to OH- ions not O2- ions. This forms the basis of the hydrogen fuel cell where oxygen is bubbled in to one beaker with a platinum (or carbon) electrode, hydrogen is bubbled into another beaker with a platinum (or carbon) electrode and a salt bridge is attached between the beakers. Students could carry out this practical in pairs by using balloons filled with hydrogen and oxygen and allowing the gases to escape under water in the 250ml beakers. Filter paper soaked in sodium hydroxide could act as the salt bridge. Students then compare different types of fuel cell and write overall equations. There is a 5 mark exam question that can be used as an end of lesson plenary or homework. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a personal learning checklist created for AS chemistry to check understanding of mole calculations. A comprehensive list of AS mole calculations is provided. Students identify what they can do after a lesson or homework as they progress through a topic. At the end both the student and teacher sign to say that the student can complete do these tasks. This is excellent for making sure students thoroughly understand a topic. Please rate and leave feedback.

This is a lesson on sodium chloride electrolysis designed for a triple set (top set) GCSE science group following the OCR Gateway science specification (C2H). The electrolysis is shown as a demo with students having previously carried out their own copper sulphate electrolysis practical. The lesson is designed to be fast paced with plenty of stretch and challenge as befits this set with students aiming for A* grades. Slides 5 (labelling) and 18 (extension activity) can be printed 6 slides per A4. Feedback to my TES inbox please.

This is a comprehensive lesson on atomic theory designed for the AQA GCSE specification. The starter is a recap crossword on atomic structure (assumed knowledge). The lesson then takes a chronological journey from the ancient Greeks to alchemy to the Enlightenment and then the 1800s/ early 1900s where Rutherford et al developed the modern model of the atom. The theory activity works really well with all ability and shows that there is little or no evidence to support the early cubic model but there lots of evidence to support the GCSE Bohr model. The lesson finishes with a 6 mark question that is peer marked using a marking grid. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a comprehensive set of differentiated lesson resources that cover polar covalent bonding. Within the lesson are Pauling electronegativity values that can be used to determine the extent of covalent bonding between two atoms. The lesson begins with a recap of ionic and covalent bonding definitions from GCSE. There is then a discussion on electronegativity differences between atoms. Students then carry out the kinesthetic task where put different comments about bonding on a scale from pure covalent to pure ionic. This scale can be printed on A3 paper. The comments can be printed on A4 paper. There is then a peer editing question task and plenary exam questions with markschemes. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a thoroughly planned lesson on the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose and hydration of ethene. It has differentiated resources and a variety of activities and exam question plenaries to check student understanding. There is an optional production of ethanol practical that could be included in this lesson or as a separate lesson. Students start by recalling the formulae for different substances then learn the symbol equations for the two methods of ethanol production. They then carry out a literacy activity where they sort the advantages and disadvantages of each method of ethanol production. The lesson concludes with an exam question plenary. The practical could be included before comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hydration versus fermentation. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is an independent learning lesson on alloys for GCSE chemistry. It is designed to promote independent learning and higher level thinking through role play, designing an aeroplane and justifying the choice of metals used by using data from a data table. The lesson starts by getting students to think about what three properties metals used to make the worlds fastest jet engined plane (SR-71 Blackbird) would need. Students could be shown a short video from YouTube to prompt their thinking and write their answers on post-it notes. They they then discuss what alloys are and could be asked identify the alloys in the metal trump cards pack (this would need to be printed in advance). They are then introduced to the 4 person role play task where they design an aeroplane. Limit their on this task to around 20 minutes. At the end they could either present their work or answer the 6 mark exam question at the end of the lesson. There is a student-friendly marking grid provided. The lesson menu is available for weaker students. Please look carefully at each of the resources provided before the lesson and decide which ones would best suit your group and length of lesson. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a thorough set of lesson resources designed to promote engagement, pace and sustained student progress through a 60 minute GCSE lesson on the evolution of the atmosphere. The lesson has been designed for the updated 2016 specification for exam board AQA and topic 4.9 Chemistry of the atmosphere. This is the first of a series of lessons on the atmosphere. Please read the lesson plan and lesson PowerPoint. The hook is students considering what pieces of information are needed to work out if life exists on other planets. Students may then consider the Drake equation (in the PPT) and the key question "what is the link between the evolution of the atmosphere and the evolution of life?". There is an Ammonium Dichromate volcano demo (see RSC link in lesson plan). The main activity is where students create a storyboard using detailed lamented sheets and then peer assess using a marking grid that suits higher and lower ability groups. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is an AS level chemistry revision resource that can be used in lesson as a plenary, for AFL or set as homework. Alternatively it can be used as part of a revision lesson.

This is a set of 6 trump cards on separating mixtures. They cover distillation, filtration, decanting, paper chromatography, magnet and gel electrophoresis (challenge). The PowerPoint can be modified. The Word document is printed and laminated. These can be used for Key Stage 3 groups as well as lower ability GCSE groups. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a comprehensive lesson that provides an introduction to enthalpy changes and serves as the first lesson in a scheme of work on energetics at A level. The lesson starts with a recap of GCSE chemistry then moves on to defining enthalpy changes. Students learn the definitions of each type of enthalpy change for homework due in the following lesson. Students then consider energy level diagrams for the grade C task. For the grade B task students predict enthalpy changes using bond dissociation data. There is a worked example of this using the Haber process. The grade A task involves converting enthalpy change values into Joules per gram values that might be used in calorimetry. Scaffolded resources and a markscheme are provided. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is an instruction sheet for teachers and students on how to make a bioplastic using everyday lab resources. Silicone paper can be bought online. This sheet can be printed and laminated for the students. Photos and a lesson PowerPoint will be uploaded later. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is an acids and alkalis revision crossword. This covers naming salts, H+, OH-, ammonium nitrate and neutralisation. There are 15 words.

This is a set of resources for one or two lessons (depending on the length of the lesson) on MRI and fMRI. This forms part of a scheme of work that includes NMR. The lesson starts with an ethical question of whether criminals are responsible for their actions - whether they are born criminals. The name of the criminal can be changed to suit local news reports or film characters. The lesson then considers the famous story of the railway worker Phineas Gage whose behaviour changed suddenly after an accident that damaged his pre-frontal cortex. Thus this brain region has been discovered to be responsible for higher level thinking and control. The lesson then considers how the brain can be imaged - beginning with anatomy then considering MRI and fMRI. Students then watch a 5 minute YouTube video on MRI and make their own notes. There is then a loop game plenary to check understanding. The second half of the lesson considers fMRI and its application in the law courts. Students consider the case of the murderer Brian Dugan who used fMRI scans as part of his defense to show diminished responsibility - he showed a lack of activity in some brain regions associated with emotion. They produce a presentation and then present this to the class. A markscheme for the presentation is included. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is is a lesson for GCSE chemistry that matches the AQA new 2016 specification section 4.1 - atomic structure and the periodic table. The lesson begins with a fun film characters starter. There is then a discussion on how elements are made in supernovae. Students then consider rules for naming compounds and how to write formulae. They then then write the formulae for 12 substances. The challenge is to write empirical formulae. The lesson concludes with a consideration of how some of the chemicals are harmful to fish such as Nemo. Titanium dioxide in suntan cream causes water and oxygen in seawater to react to form hydrogen peroxide that is toixc to fish. Answers are included. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a fun activity that be used as a lesson starter or for revision. Students replace element names with symbols to find the names of film characters (easier) or use the clues to work out the symbols (challenging). Please rate this resource and leave feedback.

This is a lesson for A level chemistry on electrochemical cells. It starts with students constructing a fruit cell and combing four of these cells to make a battery that powers a light bulb . These are made from a whole lemon, piece of clean copper, piece of clean zinc, electrical wires, crocodile clips and light bulb. This could be shown as a demo if there is not much time. Students offer explanations as to how this works. They are introduced to the theory behind how batteries work, what a half cell is and notation for writing half cells and E-cell. The hydrogen / H+ / platinum reference electrode is then introduced as a standard that is used to compare the voltage different half cells. Reinforce the idea that platinum is used because it a very unreactive electrical conductor. Students then use the electrode potentials table (go through this) to write the voltage and reactions for different combinations of half cells. This could be set as homework instead. The lesson finishes with an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.