Chemistry in health

The preparation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid | 16–18 years

Heat, react, convert and separate oil of wintergreen to create 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Includes kit list and safety instructions

Asparagus pee

A video explaining that asparagus should be cooked in butter rather than water because the molecules responsible for its flavour are water-soluble, and a worksheet about the molecules responsible for ‘asparagus pee’.

Synthesis of aspirin on a microscale

Use this class practical to produce aspirin in a microscale esterification reaction using phosphoric acid as a catalyst. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Measuring the amount of vitamin C in fruit drinks

Explore ascorbic acid in fruit drinks through titration in this experiment, with specimen results and calculations, stock solutions, and detailed notes included. 

Making Medicines

In association with GlaxoSmithKline

An introduction to nitric acid production.

The chemistry of flavour

Worksheets and videos on the molecules responsible for flavour, and how cooking affects cell walls.

Low sodium salt substitutes

This resource uses a titration method to analyse the chemical composition of Lo-Salt, a reduced sodium salt alternative.

What affects the colour and texture of cooked vegetables?

Practical work and questions about the effect of salt, sodium bicarbonate and calcium ions on the colour and texture of cooked vegetables.

Use of salt in cooking, part 2

This resource explores why salt is always added to the water when cooking green vegetables.

Use of salt in cooking, part 1

In this activity students devise and carry out experiments to test possible reasons for adding salt when cooking vegetables.

Anecdotes: Mercury

Mercury poisoning and the origins of the phrase ‘mad as a hatter’.

Anecdotes: Measuring Lead Levels in Hair

Measuring lead levels in hair using atomic absorption spectrometry.

Anecdotes: Sweet Sensations

The accidental discovery of three artificial sweeteners.

The chemistry of sports drinks

Learn about the chemistry and science behind sports drinks and the effects on the body. Find out how chemists have contributed to the improvement of athletic performance.

The chemistry of sports and energy drinks

Many people think that energy drinks and sports drinks are the same thing but in fact they work in very different ways. 

Extracting iron from breakfast cereal

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Try this class practical or demonstration to extract food-grade iron from breakfast cereals using neodymium magnets. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Energy content in foods

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Try this class experiment to investigate how much energy different foods contain. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Water sports and solutions

Life is in aqueous solution - and so is much of sport. Find out why the properties of water are vital to the sports men and women who compete in, on, and around water.

Faces of Chemistry – Biosensors

Find out how scientists at the material science laboratory, QMUL, develop biosensors to enhance sport performance.

Chemistry and Sport - Athletics: 400m

Discover the chemistry behind one of the toughest athletic events - the 400m race.

The effect of cooking on vitamin C in cabbage | 16–18 years

Plan a titration experiment to discover more about the changes in vitamins and enzymes during cooking. Includes kit list and safety instructions

Oranges and lemons

Discover the hidden secrets of lemons and oranges with this open experiment, where learners can design their own investigation. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

Organic chemists: Fighting blindness

The RSC Organic Division Council have developed scientific case-studies to highlight the importance of organic synthesis in every aspect of life.

Detecting starch in food on a microscale

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Test different foodstuffs for the presence of starch using iodine in this microscale class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Paracetamol book

This book consists of seven freestanding activities that can be used in a wide range of teaching and learning situations in both academic and vocational courses.

Using indigestion tablets to neutralise an acid

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Investigate and measure the neutralising effect of indigestion tablets on hydrochloric acid in this class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

New drugs for old: pharmaceuticals

This is a problem-based case study looks at the isolation, identification and synthesis of a pharmaceutical drug. Students are involved in screening natural herbal remedies for their active ingredients.

Make a molecule

Learn about the types of molecules found in fruits and sweets, as well as how molecules are formed

Making Medicines

An interactive resource from ABPI covering the process of making of medicines from research and development to to manufacture. 

Outreach: speedy star jumps

An activity that allows the collection of data to test whether sports drinks make a difference to performance during short, high intensity exercise.

On This Day - Mar 19 : Walter Haworth was born

Besides determining the structures of many sugars, his most famous work was discovering the structure of Vitamin C and creating its first artificial synthesis – work which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1937.

You are what you ate

In association with The National HE STEM Programme

This C/PBL resource looks at the metabolic causes and incidence of obesity in the cultural and social environment within which students, tutors, and institutions operate. Students are presented with a problem, the growing incidence of obesity, in a real life context in which the core subject, metabolic chemistry, plays a ...

Organic chemists: contributing to food production | 16–18 years

This scientific case-study highlights the importance of organic synthesis in more efficient food production.

Bendy bones

What makes bones strong? Children can learn about the role that calcium plays in skeletons

Advanced Medicinal Chemistry

This course material gives real-life examples of drug discovery and information on the drug discovery process through an industrial context, produced by Dr Ray Leslie of NTU and AstraZeneca.

Chemistry's interfaces: nutrition

In association with The National HE STEM Programme

This C/PBL resource is an introduction to some of the most important aspects of chemical biology. Its introduces students to a number of important chemical structures which play major biological roles within human metabolism.

Sunscreen and UV light

A fun demo to teach about UV light and the action/importance of sunscreen

Measuring vitamin C in food

Get your students to test their fruit and vegetables for vitamin C using simple kitchen equipment and household items

Aspirin book

This book contains eight free-standing activities that can be used singly or as a coherent package in a wide range of teaching and learning situations for both academic and vocational courses.

Chemistry of dentistry

Learn about the role of chemistry in dentistry. Includes kit list, safety instructions and suggested session timings

Chemistry in your cupboard: Gaviscon

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Link the post-16 topics of acid and base neutralisation, weak acids, bonding and carboxylic acids to the topic of antacids. Learn about a range of real life contexts for these chemical ideas through written material, and questions to encourage learning and test understanding. 

Faces of Chemistry – Sun lotion

In association with CRODA

Learn from scientists at Croda about how the chemistry behind sun lotions helps protect our skin from damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Crisps

Combining research, a practical investigation and a presentation of results.

Chemistry in your cupboard: Nurofen

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Link the post-16 topics of bonding and solubility, isomerisation and reactions of organic functional groups to the topic of analgesics. Learn about a range of real life contexts for these chemical ideas through written material, and questions to encourage learning and test understanding.

Chemistry in your cupboard: Dettol

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Link the post-16 topics of phenols, bonding and acids and bases to the topic of antiseptics.

Molecules against malaria

In association with The National HE STEM Programme

This medicinal chemistry case study is designed to introduce students to the development of antimalarial 4-aminoquinolines and the early stages of drug discovery and development. It focuses on antimalarial 4-aminoquinolines (4-AQs) and involves an introduction to malaria, its causes, societal impact and the need for new drugs. It then presents ...

Challenging Medicines: Physiochemical Properties - Practicals

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Practical experiments associated with the handouts for Physiochemical Properties. Investigating the dissolution, pKₐ and rates of hydrolysis of everyday tablets are covered.

Challenging Medicines: Analysing Medicines - Practicals

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Experiments that involve the colorimetric analysis of medicines and can be applied to other activities.

Challenging Medicines: Body Chemistry

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Medicines and the development of pharmaceutical drugs have the potential to help us take on the challenge of human health - Improving and maintaining accessible health, including disease prevention.

Challenging Medicines: Introduction/Pedagogical Overview

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Medicines and the development of pharmaceutical drugs have the potential to help us take on the challenge of human health - Improving and maintaining accessible health, including disease prevention.

Challenging Medicines: Physiochemical Properties

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

These resource sheets look at the different physiochemical properties of medicines. Pharmacokinetic processes, dissolution, ionisation and dissociation are all covered here.

Challenging Medicines: Making Medicines - Practicals and PPT

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

These resources show the extent to which everyday medicines can be made in the classroom. Using straightforward processes milk of magnesia and ear drops can all be made.

Chemistry in your cupboard

In association with Reckitt Benckiser

Learn about a range of real life contexts for these chemical ideas through written material, and questions to encourage learning and test understanding

Measuring vitamin C in fruit using titration | 14-16 years

Compare the amount of vitamin C in fruit and juices using titration, and explore conditions affecting vitamin C levels, in this lesson plan for 14–16 year olds.

Do vitamin pills work? Exploring scientific evidence | 14-16 years

Analyse data about effects of vitamin C and explore how science can give rise to different viewpoints in this lesson plan with activities for 14–16 year olds.

‘Healthy’ fats, obesity and measuring unsaturation | 16-18 years

Measure the level of ‘saturation’ of fats and oils using iodine, exploring the relation to obesity, with this lesson plan and experiment for 16–18 year olds.

Lipid chemistry and dietary fats

Explore practical experiments, case studies and other activities for 11–16 year olds to learn about the chemistry of fats in the context of food and diet.