I created this resource as an interactive activity for open evenings, taster days and STEM events. Could also be used as a wall display of familiar organic molecules. You will need a good supply of Organic Chemistry Molymod sets. The idea is that learners are challenged to build organic molecules from Molymods. The molecules themselves are detailed on an A4 sheet - one per molecule. On each sheet is the IUPAC name for the molecule, the trivial name for the molecule, the molecular formula, and the skeletal structure. These range from simple molecules like ethanoic acid (vinegar) to more complex organic molecules such as neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin etc) and hormones (testosterone, oestrogen etc). Also included are some pharmaceutical drugs (paracetamol, morphine etc) and a few recreational drugs (heroin, nicotine etc) for comparison. There are 16 molecules altogether, each on a separate sheet. They are suitable for a range of abilities. These can be laminated for a professional look, or just colour printed. There are instructional sheets, too (including a sheet on understanding skeletal structures), and a title page for displaying on a table / wall / door. This resource would best suit Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) learners who are studying organic chemistry, and A-level chemistry students , who go into more depth on this topic. Also suitable for Access to Higher Education and BTEC Science students.

<p>A really straightforward worksheet for learners to use when carrying out a flame test analysis to determine the identity of an unknown metal ion (X). The ions included are: copper, barium, sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium and strontium (as these have the prettiest and most characteristic colours!). These could be given in the form of chlorides or other salts. By burning a sample of each of the above in a Bunsen flame (Dipping first in hydrochloric acid - concentrated and dilute both work well), learners learn to recognise the characteristic colours of each metal ion. This allows them to identify the unknown (any of the above) by simply observing its flame colour. No procedure or health &amp; safety included - just a sheet to record results and identity of the unknown.</p>

<p>A double sided worksheet which can be used for most simple paper chromatography experiments, including food dyes, inks, pens, amino acids, plant pigments etc. There are spaces for: an apparatus / equipment list, a labelled diagram (beaker / jar only so students can customise according to the equipment they used), a health &amp; safety checklist, before and after diagrams of chromatography paper / chromatogram, results (in a table that includes guidance on calculating Rf values), and a space for writing the identity of the components of a mixture. All with minimal words, and easy to understand guidance (No method / procedure included). I would recommend this for Key Stage 3 or low ability KS4 (I actually made this for my BTEC Applied Science students!). PDF format.</p>

<p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst my students were struggling with their mental health and general wellbeing, normal college work was not on the agenda for some of my classes. As a Chemistry lecturer, I decided to combine Science and the creative arts in an effort to keep learners occupied and productive, as well as giving them an opportunity to express themselves in a way that I hoped would help them through the tough times. In my attempt at inspiring them, I set myself the challenge of writing a ‘daily science haiku’ each weekday for a full half term. As I don’t tend to do things by halves, I decided that I would also add pictures to the poems to help put the Science in context. I used Adobe Spark Post with licenced stock images (and my own photos at times). The images are all square (originally designed with Instagram in mind), and would look great as posters on a lab wall or science display. I add them to the first slide of my lessons, which works well. There’s a good selection of Chemistry, Biology and Physics haikus in this bundle of my favourites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing them! For those of you who don’t know, haikus are short poems of three lines, containing five, seven, and five syllables respectively. Although I don’t claim these are in the traditional Japanese style completely, I do hope that they encourage your learners to question everything around them (with a scientific mind, of course!). 34 scikus included as JPEG files. Subject matter ranges from CRISPR and quantum computing to the mole and axolotls! My name appears on all images (subtlely, in the corner usually!).</p>

<p>A PowerPoint presentation on the history of benzene, adapted (by myself) from a more basic overview of benzene to include a detailed discussion on the development of the delocalised model and the accepted theory of resonance hybridisation. There is a worksheet to accompany the PowerPoint.</p> <p>I have included a couple of links to Compound Chem, below. It is one of the best resources out there (All credit to Andy Brunning of Compound Chem). The links are to two infographics; one on the reactions of aromatic compounds, and the other giving examples of derivatives of benzene. These will compliment any lesson on benzene.</p> <p><a href="https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/02/23/aromatic-chemistry-reactions-map/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/02/23/aromatic-chemistry-reactions-map/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/01/benzene-derivatives-in-organic-chemistry/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/01/benzene-derivatives-in-organic-chemistry/</a></p> <p>I also recommend the advanced chemistry ‘starters for 10’ (Link below) from the Royal Society of Chemistry (developed by Dr Kristy Turner, RSC School Teacher Fellow 2011-2012 at the University of Manchester, and Dr Catherine Smith, RSC School Teacher Fellow 2011-2012 at the University of Leicester). All the chapters are excellent, but scroll down to chapter 5, Aromatic Chemistry, for starters (or short activities) that would be an excellent addition to a lesson on benzene and aromaticity.</p> <p><a href="http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001358/advanced-starters-for-ten-chapters-1-14#!cmpid=CMP00002946" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001358/advanced-starters-for-ten-chapters-1-14#!cmpid=CMP00002946</a></p> <p>No purchase necessary to use any of the links above! The only resource you are paying for is the PowerPoint and accompanying worksheet.</p> <p>I have put the PowerPoint together for my 2nd year Applied Science (Extended Diploma) students as I am about to embark on teaching the new NQF Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry. The presentation, as well as the free resources linked above, will be useful when teaching Learning Aim B (Understand the reactions and properties of aromatic compounds), but would be equally useful for teaching the topic to A-level students, or to Access to H.E. students (This topic crops up in Unit RD43CY014: Organic Chemistry - Hydrocarbons, Alcohols and Acids).</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p>Feedback welcome.</p>