Teaching redox chemistry post-16

Redox chemistry is a central part of our daily lives; mobile phones are a perfect example of this. Such contexts provide opportunities to explore the sustainability aspects of our increased use of many elements in class. And there are many other ways to put redox chemistry into everyday contexts for students. In this article, RSC trainer and independent science education consultant Morag Easson explores this essential post-16 topic in detail, looking at these contexts, student misconceptions and the more common mistakes made in class, as well as a number of key factors such as the importance of defining oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer. Read this article for a storehouse of ideas to support teaching redox in the classroom and lab.