Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (the insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Specification reference: SC8c core practical, preparing copper sulfate, C3.17

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 iGCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Questions consulted include 2C June 2016 Q7 for technique (I recommend this for exam-style practice) and 1CR June 2019, question 5d for rate of reaction and temperature. I have a similar worksheet for AQA GCSE chemistry.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals covering two pages for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form, and checked against a similar question on the 84621H specimen paper. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. Written targeting AQA but would be suitable for other exam boards. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Topic area: required practical 1 and 4.4 Chemical Changes > 4.4.2 Reactions of acids > 4.4.2.3 Soluble salts > Preparing a pure dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate. I also have a version for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry.

Combined lesson plan for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry: a presentation on metallic bonding, simple fill-in-the-blank questions questions and a harder sheet of written questions linked to the presentation, and a take-home set of notes on one page. Also suitable as a recap for A-level students. Covers metallic bonding, conduction of electricity and heat, the fact that metals are malleable/ductile and alloys. Starts with a mixer exercise covering uses of metals and also includes some properties and uses of the most common metals and types of steel. Need to use this lesson plan in a hurry and want to deliver a polished lesson? I’ve got you covered: each slide ends with a full stop marking that it’s the last point on the slide so you know when the slide’s going to change. Also, each exam question slide has a spare line before the answer is revealed so you don’t accidentally show the answer too early. Included is a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and an exam-style written questions worksheet matching questions on the presentation, and the mark schemes for both. Both worksheets have pictures and diagrams to stimulate students. The notes have diagrams and also links to two recommended videos for revision. Besides covering metallic bonding and content like specific types of steel, the presentation introduces themes for future lessons, like that metal recycling saves energy and rust prevention.

Worksheet covering the equations and rules for solution electrolysis for AQA 9-1 GCSE higher chemistry on two pages. Covers electrolysis of sodium chloride solution (brine/saltwater), copper sulfate solution with inert graphite electrodes, and electrolysis of pure water. Diagrams, a mark scheme and links to recommended videos from Fuse School and ChemJungle are included. Versions in colour and converted to black and white.

Worksheet on two pages on extracting metals using carbon (and tungsten), targeting the AQA 9-1 science and chemistry GCSEs in the C5 “Chemical changes” section of the course. Covers the reactivity series, unreactive metals, word and symbol equations, environmental impact, redox and tungsten extraction. There’s an in-depth mark scheme, diagram of a blast furnace and links to recommended videos. Update, September 2024: added version with the images tuned to print well in black and white (note that the emoji graphics appear in colour onscreen).

Simple worksheet on two pages covering electrolysis of aluminium for students to fill in. Covers the equations at the cathode, anode, redox, why the process is environmentally damaging and why recycling aluminium is a good thing to do. There’s also links to recommended YouTube videos from Fuse School and the RSC. This plan targets the Edexcel GCSE 9-1 chemistry course although should be suitable for other exam boards. Versions both in colour and black and white. This lesson plan is given away for free in order to encourage recycling! But if you like it please check out my lesson plan on metallic bonding and other lesson plans. I also have versions for AQA and Edexcel iGCSE. Update: 13/3/24: added clarification that the cathodes are graphite and added a link to a video showing bauxite mining to show the amount of land needed.

Simple worksheet on two pages covering electrolysis of aluminium for students to fill in. Covers the equations at the cathode, anode, redox, why the process is environmentally damaging and why recycling aluminium is a good thing to do. There’s also links to recommended YouTube videos from Fuse School and the RSC. This plan targets the Edexcel iGCSE 9-1 course. Versions both in colour and black and white. This lesson plan is given away for free in order to encourage recycling! But if you like it please check out my lesson plan on metallic bonding and other lesson plans. I also have versions of these questions for Edexcel GCSE and for AQA. Update: 16/3/24: added clarification that the cathodes are graphite and added a link to a video showing bauxite mining to show the amount of land needed.

Simple worksheet on two pages covering electrolysis of aluminium for students to fill in. Covers the equations at the cathode, anode, redox, why the process is environmentally damaging and why recycling aluminium is a good thing to do. There’s also links to recommended YouTube videos from Fuse School and the RSC. This plan targets the AQA 9-1 chemistry GCSE course. Versions both in colour and black and white. This lesson plan is given away for free in order to encourage recycling! But if you like it please check out my lesson plan on metallic bonding, my worksheet on AQA solution electrolysis equations and on extracting metals using carbon and other lesson plans. I also have versions for Edexcel GCSE and Edexcel iGCSE. Update: 13/3/24: added clarification that the cathodes are graphite and added a link to a video showing bauxite mining to show the amount of land needed.

Notes on the tests for gases and for water for Cambridge chemistry iGCSE on one page. The notes include an explanation of what the tests tell you about the properties of each chemical and links to recommended videos. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying. Gases covered are tests for hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The reaction of ammonia with hydrogen chloride is also covered.

Notes on the tests for gases and for water for Edexcel 9-1 chemistry GCSE on one page. The notes include an explanation of what the tests tell you about the properties of each chemical and links to recommended videos. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying. Gases covered are tests for hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.

Notes on the tests for gases and for water for Edexcel 9-1 chemistry iGCSE on one page. The notes include an explanation of what the tests tell you about the properties of each chemical and links to recommended videos. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying. Gases covered are tests for hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.

Notes on the tests for gases and for water for AQA 9-1 chemistry GCSE, with notes on one page and a table on a separate sheet. The notes include an explanation of what the tests tell you about the properties of each chemical and links to recommended videos. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying.

Worksheets for teaching polymers on the AQA chemistry specification, covering the current 9-1 GCSEs: a two-page question and answer worksheet covering addition and condensation polymers, and a fill-in-the-blanks sheet for the common addition polymers and their uses. Practices definitions and drawing organic molecule structures. Mark schemes are attached. I include a lot of alternative ways the molecules could be drawn in case the person giving the lesson isn’t a chemistry specialist.

Lesson plan on ionic bonding, featuring a lesson plan presentation, one-page notes for students to take home and a question sheet for students to do. Covers ionic bonding, state at room temperature, common properties, conductivity of electricity, strength and dot and cross diagrams for forming ions.There’s diagrams, pictures and links to two recommended YouTube videos. The question sheet is intended to be a graduated scheme of work with first fill-in-the-blank and then written questions. Written for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry and also for Edexcel GCSE and iGCSE chemistry, but suitable for all the major exam boards. It’s also good for introduction to A-level as a recap.

Notes on purifying an organic liquid, including links to RSC YouTube clips of the processes. These notes are oriented towards exam technique and don’t include a complete practical method. The notes are particularly targeted towards the AQA chemistry A-level and required practical but could be used for other courses or as a basis for other lesson plans. 2018 AQA paper 3 question 3 was consulted writing the notes.

Notes on gas chromatography and GC-MS for the current Edexcel A-level specification. There’s pictures and diagrams, explanation of a calibration curve and links to three top recommended videos in this one-page resource.

Notes on gas chromatography and GC-MS for the current AQA A-level specification. There’s pictures and diagrams, explanation of a calibration curve and links to three top recommended videos in this one-page resource. In preparing this set of notes, I found question 6 from the specimen paper 2 (set 2) especially useful for knowing what the current examiners are looking for, so I really recommend this for exam practice of this topic.

Revision notes on the Arrhenius equation for the AQA A-level chemistry specification on two pages. Includes a lot of model calculations, recap of straight line graphs and explanation of the confusing units, including a detailed explanation of the 2018 paper with T and t and how 1/t is proportional to k. A lot of students by the second year of A-level have forgotten how to do GCSE maths problems like understanding a straight line graph, so this set of notes has a lot of recap of straight line graphs. There’s also a lot of detailed breakdown of the log equation and how it’s a straight line graph. Model calculations are given for log and power of e so students can check they’re using their calculator right.

Five page revision notes on Gibbs free energy, for the OCR A specification. Covers the standard trick questions, graphs against temperature, and includes a range of worked examples, diagrams of the graphs, types of reactions where ΔH and ΔS have different signs and unit conversion examples.