Justice and injustice in chemistry: aspirin and other drugs | 16–18 years

An image showing the pages available in the downloads with solar panels in the shape of a 1 in the foreground.

Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry

Critical thinking and research task, reflecting on the science and societal views surrounding drugs and their development

Challenge your 16–18 learners to develop their critical thinking and research skills by reflecting on the science and societal views surrounding drugs and their development. This resource can be used alongside practical work on the synthesis of aspirin, which is covered at A-level and equivalent courses across the UK and Ireland. It includes a free writing task and introductory information, including a video on medicinal drugs, followed by individual research and group discussion.

The topics discussed in this resource will help your learners increase their awareness of bias by evaluating the reliability of the information they find and their sources. These skills will be important throughout their studies and in their future careers. They are also a perfect springboard for development into a critical analysis essay, eg for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

Link to UN Sustainable development goal 1: end poverty in all its forms everywhere, to give further context to the drug development process.

Thanks for using the RSC’s education resources. You can view one resource per month as a visitor, or two resources per month when you’re logged in with a personal account.

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more: 

unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not a science teacher or technician based in the UK or Ireland? Don’t worry – you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.