Learning about Materials

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The resources in this book from the Royal Society of Chemistry provide a variety of activities for pre-16 and post-16 students to give them opportunities to apply chemical ideas in unfamiliar contexts. There are three main topics each related to modern materials. Each main section is subdivided and the individual sections can generally be used independently of the others.

This publication was the outcome of workshops for teachers organised by The Royal Society of Chemistry in conjunction with The Institute of Materials; and the Armourers’ and Brasiers’ company. Three workshops were held in 1995: at Johnson Matthey, Reading on the extraction of platinum group metals; at Raychem, Swindon on ‘smart materials’; and at Chemoxy International, Middlesborough on ‘biodiesel’.

Contents
PLATINUM EXTRACTION
• Introduction
Part 1: Pre-16 – The platinum story
• Teacher’s notes
• Answers to the platinum question sheet
Part 2: Post-16 – The isolation of the platinum group metals (PGM)
• Teacher’s notes
• Answers to questions on aspects of the platinum group metals (PGM)
Part 3: Post-16 – Aspects of the platinum group metals (PGM)
• Teacher’s notes
• Answers to questions on aspects of the platinum group metals (PGM)
• Photocopy masters

SMART MATERIALS
• Introduction
Part 1: Pre-16 – Conducting plastics and shape changing polymers
• Teacher’s notes
• Answers to questions on conducting plastics
• Answers to questions on shape changing polymers (or molecules with a memory)
Part 2: Post-16 – Conducting polymers and shape memory polymers
• Teacher’s Notes
• Answers to questions on conducting polymers
• Answers to questions on shape memory polymers
• Photocopy masters

BIODIESEL
• Introduction
Part 1: Pre-16 – Making biodiesel
• Introducing biodiesel
• Team exercise: Biodiesel – will you produce it?
• Biodiesel – Teacher’s Fact indicator
Part 2: Post-16 – Making biodiesel
• Answers to questions on making biodiesel
• Post-16 worksheets
• Teacher’s notes
• Answers to questions on post-16 worksheets
• Photocopy masters

URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx72j

HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment. Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date. Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.