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Outstanding GCSE and A level chemistry resources

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.
History of the periodic table GCSE - includes Mendeleev, Newlands and noble gases
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History of the periodic table GCSE - includes Mendeleev, Newlands and noble gases

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This lesson forms part of the chemistry GCSE atomic structure scheme of work for the new 2016 AQA specification. The starter is a fun kinsthetic activity where students put element cards into groups. These cards are available to buy from Royal Society for Chemistry. A link is included on the slide. Alternatively students could make a pack of element fact cards for homework and bring them to lesson for the starter activity. Students are then introduced to Dobereiner and Newlands. They watch a 3 minute YouTube video about Mendeleev and answer the questions provided. Students then consider that Mendeleev missed group 8/0 elements and swapped iodine / tellurium so that the group 7 elements are all non-metals (i.e. why de not always put elements in order of increasing atomic weight). There is an activity where students consider the good and bad things about each scientists methodology and write an explanation for why we now use Mendeleevs table. Finally there is an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Structure of the atom GCSE - includes isotopes and electron shells
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Structure of the atom GCSE - includes isotopes and electron shells

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This forms part of the chemistry scheme of work for the new 2016 specification. The homework task is set in advance so that students can mark their homework as a starter activity. There is an optional starter activity to show students as they walk in which is a recap of what atoms and elements are. The video is the worlds smallest video created by IBM. It shows atoms of an element moving around - the key point being that atoms of a particular element are identical. The first activity looks at understanding how to work out the number of subatomic particles. Students are then introduced to the concept of isotopes. The next activity looks at electron shells the more able students are introduced to ions. The lesson finishes with an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Separating mixtures GCSE - includes paper chromatography
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Separating mixtures GCSE - includes paper chromatography

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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.
Balancing equations GCSE
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Balancing equations GCSE

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This covers balancing equations skills for GCSE. This is lesson 2 in the atomic structure scheme of work for the AQA 2016 specification. The lesson starts with a recap of elements, compounds and formulae (lesson 1 in the AQA atomic structure scheme of work). The lesson then has a demo of the sodium and chlorine reaction. Students are then introduced to the rules for balancing equations. They can balance equations using the particle diagrams method that is included in the main lesson. Alternatively students could use the column method or use boiled sweets that are included separately. The challenge is to balance equations that use brackets and to balance half equations. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Elements and compounds revision crossword
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Elements and compounds revision crossword

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This covers naming of compounds (e.g. iron chloride) and some challenge questions such as where the heavier elements are made (supernova). Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Atomic structure GCSE lesson 1 - Elements, compounds and formulae
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Atomic structure GCSE lesson 1 - Elements, compounds and formulae

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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.
Iodoform reaction - A level chemistry - includes RSC practical
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Iodoform reaction - A level chemistry - includes RSC practical

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This is a thoroughly planned lesson on the iodoform reaction that may should take a total of approximately 2 hours (2 lessons). This forms part of a scheme of work on carbonyl compounds. The RSC practical that is included works well. Please carefully read through the safety advice provided by the RSC and take care when disposing of the products. The starter recaps previous learning where students match up different carbonyl compound tests with their observations and the species being tested for. The lesson then moves into a discussion of what the iodoform reaction tests for and students identify compounds that would test positively. Whiteboards could be used for assessment for learning. The students might then carry out the RSC practical in pairs. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Film character elements differentiated
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Film character elements differentiated

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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.
MRI and fMRI - A level chemistry and psychology - stages, comparison of MRI and fMRI, ethical issues
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MRI and fMRI - A level chemistry and psychology - stages, comparison of MRI and fMRI, ethical issues

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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.
An introduction to electrochemical cells - A level - includes writing half cells
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An introduction to electrochemical cells - A level - includes writing half cells

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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.
Fuel cells - A level chemistry - includes combining fuel cell half equations
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Fuel cells - A level chemistry - includes combining fuel cell half equations

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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.
Hess Law cycles - An introduction - covers construction, vectors and different types
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Hess Law cycles - An introduction - covers construction, vectors and different types

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This is a lesson for A level chemistry where students are introduced to Hess Law through the topic of vectors that they would have learned at GCSE. The lesson starts with a GCSE recap on vectors then moves into discussing that some enthalpy changes reactions cannot be calculated or are difficult to calculate and so alternative reactions are used. Students then learn that the exams require them to use a few types of enthalpy change to calculate an unknown enthalpy change. These are bond enthalpies, enthalpy of combustion and enthalpy of formation. Students are told how to draw the arrows. Please note that this a very difficult topic for all students and do not assume that the lesson can be rushed for the brightest students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.