Periodic table articles – Page 3
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Class experiment
Properties of the transition metals and their compounds
Student discover the diversity of transition metals in this practical that puts their knowledge of these common elements to the test. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Class experiment
The oxidation states of vanadium
Introduce your students to the idea that different oxidation states of transition metal ions often have different colours, and that electrode potentials can be used to predict the course of the redox reactions. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Class experiment
Competition for oxygen | reacting metals with oxides
Explore the reactions of metals when exposed to the oxide of another metal. When reactions like these occur, the two metals compete for the oxygen. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Class experiment
An alternative to using compressed gas cylinders
Getting gas under pressure allows exciting demonstrations such as igniting balloons filled with hydrogen gas. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Class experiment
Flame tests (the wooden splint method)
Find a new method to perform flame tests using wooden splints soaked in chlorides. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Ideas
Mapping compound structure and bonding
How everyday compounds’ properties can be linked to their bonding and structure with a ‘structure triangle’
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News
Purest silicon sphere ever created will redefine the kilogram
Largest impurity is copper taking the place of one silicon atom in every three billion
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Class experiment
The preparation and properties of oxygen
Produce a potassium manganate(VII) reaction using a test tube, Bunsen burner, and scientific inquisition to detect the presence of oxygen. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Feature
Modern-day alchemists
Sam Tracey visits Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to find out how to make a new element
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News
Gold nanoclusters offer route to better vaccines
New technique improves immune response and safety of hepatitis E vaccine
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Demonstration
Heating group 1 metals in air and in chlorine
Use this demonstration to illustrate the reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium in air and in chlorine. Includes kit list, video and safety instructions.
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Demonstration
Halogen reactions with iron wool
Illustrate an exothermic redox reaction by heating iron wool with chlorine, bromine and iodine with this demonstration. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Demonstration
Reactivity trends of the alkali metals
Use this experiment to demonstrate the trend in reactivity down group 1 of the Periodic Table, exploring the physical and chemical properties of the alkali metals.
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Class experiment
Flame colours: a demonstration
Explore how different elements rect when exposed to a flame, and discuss how alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and metal salts change the colour of fire.
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Class experiment
Microscale extraction of copper
Try this practical to reduce copper(II) oxide to copper using hydrogen, revealing their positions in the reactivity series. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Soundbite
Harry Kroto: a fond farewell
Nina Notman pays her respects to Harry Kroto, a co-discover of the buckyball
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Simulation
Build an atom simulation
Build an atom from scratch, using protons, neutrons, and electrons. Test different combinations to produce ions and unstable elements. Video: How to use the PhET build an atom simulation
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Opinion
The education of Harry Kroto
Kristy Turner reflects on Sir Harry Kroto's relationship with education