Chemistry in sport

Chemistry and Sport - Shooting

Discover the chemistry and enthalpy of the exothermic reactions that power sport shooting events.

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 through discussion and worksheet exercises.

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. This resource looks at how caffeine affects the body and chemistry behind respiration.

Chemistry now: chemistry and sport

This deals with the chemistry of aerobic and anaerobic respiration in the context of athletics and looks at a number of ways in which athletes can manipulate (legally!) the chemistry of this process to their advantage by monitoring the concentration of lactic acid in their blood.

Olympic materials Primary

This resource allows primary school students to explore the difference between a natural material and a synthetic material. The Materials used in different sports for the Olympic Games is then explored.

Olympic composites (secondary level)

A composite is a mix of two or more materials which often have very different properties. Find out about composites used in sport equipment material.

Olympic Materials

These resources allow students to explore how changes in materials technology can bring about changes to sporting equipment.

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.

Chemistry in our community

Ready-made Careers Presentations: Chemistry in our community

Chemistry at the races book

This book looks into detecting drugs in race horses using various different analytical techniques and drug metabolism.

Olympic composites (primary level)

Find out what composites are made up of and why they are so important sporting equipment for the Olympics.

The role of technology in sporting performance

Learn about how science engineering technology has developed sport and increase performance for athletes in ‘technology-driven’ sports such as track cycling, rowing and sailing.

Chemistry and Sport - diving

Gravity - the enemy of the high-jumper, and the diver’s friend. Find out how the sport of diving relies on gravity, and why a diver seems lighter in water than on land.

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.

Olympic Medals

Discover the chemistry and history behind the Gold, Silver and Bronze Olympic medals.

The Wonders of the Olympic Torch

Learn about the history and design of the Olympic torch and the journey it takes to the Olympics opening ceremony.

Chemistry and Sport - weightlifting

Find out why chalk is as important in weightlifting as it is in tennis, rock climbing, and even fire-fighting.

Faces of Chemistry – Biosensors

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

Chemistry and Sport - football

Materials chemistry has revolutionised the game of football and given us the balls, gloves, and goalposts we play with.