All Polymers articles
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IdeasHow to use models to boost understanding
Help students make sense of the chemistry they can’t see with memorable representations
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Article
What are Halloween costume masks made from?
Find out about the creative chemistry behind costume masks
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News
Spiderwebs used as microplastic pollution screens
Airborne plastic can make up a tenth of a spiderweb’s weight. What can it tell us about the life cycle of plastic and recycling in our cities?
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News
Composite fibre could protect firefighters from extreme heat
The next-generation aerogel with superior thermal insulation could be used to make heat protective clothing and spacecraft shielding
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Article
Why does jelly wobble?
Find out how gelatin’s bonds, structure and properties make jelly jiggle
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Resource
Covalent bonding tiles | 14–16 years
Help learners to visualise the shape and structure of simple covalent molecules with these manipulative covalent bonding tiles.
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Ideas
Teach complex concepts easily with paper prompts
How folding paper is a successful learning tool for complex topics
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Job profile
Chief executive officer
Daniel is helping the world to reach net-zero carbon emissions by creating a way to turn manufacturers’ waste carbon dioxide into chemicals that can be used in everyday products.
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News
Sunlight produces thousands of compounds from plastic
Scientists dispel the theory that sunlight exposure simply fragments macroplastics that persist in the environment, but what are the implications for the environment?
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Ideas
Teach your students about sustainable production and consumption
Easy ways to bring UN sustainable development goal 12 into your teaching of life cycle assessments, polymers and batteries
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Soundbite
Polymer chemistry is printing noses
Learn more about a novel application of polymer chemistry to help reconstruct the faces of skin cancer patients
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News
A 3D-printed material replacing elephant ivory
Show your students a new context when studying composite materials and thermosetting polymers
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News
Ceramic nanoparticles help mould glass into any shape
Get students to compare the properties of glass and plastic polymers
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Interview
‘You don’t need to choose between the arts and science’
Meet Katherine Curran, a chemist applying her polymer know-how to the conservation of plastic museum objects
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Resource
Puzzling polymers | 14–16 years
A matching activity worksheet using clues to identify and name repeating polymers based on their chemical structure
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Resource
‘Life would be unrecognisable without plastic’ | 11–16 years
A worksheet including three classroom activities to evaluate the role plastic plays in everyday life
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Feature
Plastic conservation
Usually we want plastics to degrade, so what about when we don’t? How chemists are helping museums preserve plastics
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News
Slashing emissions with polymer fashion
Show students the high performance fabric that’s made from waste plastic and is cutting the carbon footprint of the fashion industry
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Ideas
Put organic chemistry concepts in context
3 ways to teach 14–16 students how to apply their knowledge to new scenarios and prepare them for exams
