All Chemistry for the Gifted and Talented articles
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ResourceRates and equilibria
This activity demonstrates the links between the topics of rates of reaction and the equilibrium law. It provides students with an explanation of the equilibrium law and helps them explain why Le Chatelier’s principle works for temperature, concentration and pressure.
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ResourceOrganising your understanding
Three activities that progressively stretch learners’ understanding of these key topics using Venn-like diagrams to organise information
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ResourceSwimming pool chemistry | 16–18 years
Synoptic questions explore structure and bonding, equilibrium and spectrometry and spectroscopy in the context of swimming pools
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ResourceShapes of molecules and ions
This activity draws some extra concepts and mathematical skills into the discussion of molecular shape. A distinction between geometry around the central atom and the shape of the molecule is made.
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ResourceThe second law of thermodynamics
This activity aims to introduce the topic in a way that uses the students’ synthesis skills to piece together several pieces of information.
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ResourceOxidation numbers
This activity introduces oxidation numbers by giving a conceptual foundation for them in terms of electron accounting and polar bonds. It then shows how the model used so far needs refining.
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ResourceOrganic reaction maps
This activity encourages the use of mind maps to organise information. It also highlights where oxidation and reduction are involved in transformations between functional groups.
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ResourceOdd one out (organic)
This activity should encourage a rapid consideration of the range of concepts met in organic chemistry.
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ResourceMixing drinks
The activity uses two methods to develop metacognition. First, students are asked to solve a problem and then reflect on the thinking styles that they used. In the other method students discuss four modelled thinking styles of fictional students.
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ResourceFormal charge
This activity introduces formal charge – a useful tool which otherwise might not be taught. The formal charge model treats bonds as pure covalent, in contrast to the oxidation state model which treats bonds as ionic.
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ResourceEntropy and equilibrium
This activity shows the students the fundamental link between entropy and equilibrium and increases students’ understanding of scientific models. It highlights the importance of mathematical descriptions in physical chemistry.
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ResourceCurly arrows and stereoselectivity
This activity develops the use of curly arrows. If you have some very able students in a group, then there is an opportunity for differentiation by giving them a chance to draw curly arrow mechanisms for whatever reactions they meet.
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ResourceCovalent bonding
This activity seeks to develop an understanding of covalent bonding in terms of energetic stability rather than full shells.
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ResourceA new kind of alchemy
This presents some cutting edge research for post-16 students in a context that they can appreciate. It shows the students there are still big ideas to be explored in chemistry and should promote research as a career choice.
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ResourcePolymer puzzles
This activity is designed to develop the students’ higher order thinking – particularly critical thinking skills – in the context of problem solving. It should help students to recall the facts about some common polymers.
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ResourceTrends in reactivity in the periodic table
This could be used to follow up some work on the periodic table where the trends in reactivity in groups 1 and 7 have been identified. It can be used as a differentiated activity for the more able students within a group.
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ResourceElemental Su Doku
This activity helps students gain a familiarity with the periodic table by getting them to continually refer to it in a problem solving activity.
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ResourceNoble gases
The activity sets some critical thinking and pattern spotting tasks in the context of the noble gases. This can be used to develop skills in determining mathematical relationships between variables from graphs.