All Able and talented articles
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ResourceChemistry Olympiad past papers
Download past papers from the UK Chemistry Olympiad, including questions and mark schemes with answers from 2003 onwards.
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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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ResourceChemistry Olympiad support booklet
Stretch and challenge your students or help them prepare for the Chemistry Olympiad using these example questions with commentary and analysis.
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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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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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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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ResourceIonic bonding
An explanation often given for ionic bonding is that atoms lose or gain electrons to achieve noble gas configurations. This activity evaluates that as a complete explanation.
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ResourceBonding models
This activity gets the students to think of the model they have been taught as a model rather than the truth.