Rates of reaction chemistry - classroom resources | In-person PD course

This collection is most valuable to those who have attended this course and wish to put into practice with their students some of the ideas and activities presented as part of that event. Please note that this list is not exhaustive; not all trainer activities have a corresponding classroom resource. In some circumstances there is variation between the training resource and classroom resource.

Kinetics starters 16–18

Use this Starter for ten to help embed kinetics theories including collision theory and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.

What is a chemical reaction? | 11-14 years

Explore the key idea that chemical reactions produce one or more new substances while conserving matter in this lesson plan with activities for 11–14 year olds.

The effect of temperature on reaction rate

Discover more about collision theory in this practical, where a sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid mixture produce an interesting reaction. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

The effect of concentration on reaction rate

Students react sodium thiosulfate solution is reacted with acid – a sulfur precipitate forms. The time taken for a certain amount of sulfur to form can be used to indicate the rate of the reaction. Contains kit list and safety instructions.

Observing chemical changes

Try this microscale practical to explore the chemical changes in displacement, redox and precipitation reactions. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Burning milk powder

Gather a Bunsen burner, and some common powdered milk to help students grasp the ideas of surface area and reaction rates. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

A visible activated complex

A simple demonstration of catalysis also introducing the idea of an activated complex and to allow discussion of the mechanism of catalysis. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

The evolution of catalytic converters

From early smog problems to modern concerns about air pollution, catalysts pave the way in controlling the emissions from combustion engines

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.

Rates of reaction