All Properties of matter articles
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Ideas
Get particular about particles
Be creative when demonstrating coarse, fine and nanoparticles – make a model
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Class experiment
Melting and freezing stearic acid
In this class practical students take the temperature of stearic acid at regular intervals as they heat and cool it. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
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Resource
Diffusion and chemical reactions | Developing understanding | 11–14
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of diffusion and chemical reactions and how these processes are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
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Resource
Diffusion and dissolving | Developing understanding | 11–14
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of diffusion and dissolving and how these processes are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
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Resource
Melting and boiling points | Developing understanding | 11–14
Deepen understanding of melting and boiling points and how these are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
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Resource
Solutions | Developing understanding | 11–14
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of solutions and how they are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
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Resource
States of matter | Developing understanding | 11–14 years
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of states of matter and how they are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
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Resource
States of matter | Johnstone’s triangle worksheets | 11–14 years
Use this worksheet to develop learners’ understanding of states of matter, including a teacher demonstration
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News
Volcanic ash cloud turned brain to glass
Explore changes of state with this real-life horrible history
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Resource
Atoms and ions of copper | Johnstone’s triangle worksheets | 14–16 years
Use these worksheets to develop learners’ understanding of atoms and ions, including a demonstration of a metal displacement reaction
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Resource
Particle diagrams and coffee shops | In context | 14–16
Put particle diagrams into context and practise maths in science with a visit to a coffee shop
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Lesson plan
Metallic bonding and the structure of iron | Lesson plan | 14–16 years
Explore how the bonding in iron relates to its physical properties and address common misconceptions using this lesson plan with activities
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Lesson plan
Bonding bingo: bonds and properties of substances | 14–16 years
Try this game and lesson plan to reinforce learners’ understanding of bonding and how it relates to the physical properties of substances
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Resource
States of matter | Structure strip | 11–14 years
Support learners to recall and write about the properties of solids, liquids and gases
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Resource
Diffusion | Structure strip | 11–14 years
Use scaffolded prompts to support learners to write about diffusion
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Exhibition chemistry
Make water ‘disappear’ with a superabsorbent polymer
Use just sodium polyacrylate, water and table salt to amaze learners and show how chemists modify materials for their purposes
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Resource
Particle diagrams of water | Johnstone’s triangle worksheets | 14–16 years
Use these worksheets to develop learners’ understanding of particle diagrams of water in the solid, liquid and gas state
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Class experiment
Microscale diffusion of a gas | 11–16 years
Explore diffusion with this simple and effective microscale experiment
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Resource
Changes of state | Structure strip | 11–14 years
Use scaffolded prompts to support learners to write about changes of state
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Exhibition chemistry
Experiment with surface tension and convection currents
Use this demonstration when teaching concentration gradients, diffusion and convection at 11–16