Nuffield Foundation
Practical Work for Learning

Putting chemicals into groups

See also
Right box 1: 
<p><strong><a href="http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/216">Practical Chemistry</a></strong></p> <p>-&nbsp;<a href="/node/2916" target="_self">Chocolate and structure</a></p> <p>-&nbsp;<a href="/node/2909" target="_self">Three colours from the same dye bath</a></p> <p>-&nbsp;<a href="/node/2915" target="_self">Allotropes of sulfur</a></p> <p>-&nbsp;<a href="/node/2918" target="_self">Electrolysis of zinc chloride</a></p> <p>-&nbsp;<a href="/node/2923" target="_self">Electrolytes and non-electrolytes</a></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/1662" target="_blank">Practical Biology</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/1663">Practical Physics</a></strong></p>
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Practical work for learning [1]

This lesson sequence is designed to exemplify an argumentation approach to practical work, using a ‘classification’ framework.

In these lessons students see for themselves that it is possible to group chemicals with similar properties – and that there are some chemicals which do not fit easily into a group. Students carry out a practical activity in one lesson and in the next try to group the chemicals according to the results of their investigations. At the end the students are told the four main groups that chemists use to classify chemicals and they try placing the chemicals they have been using into these groups.

Download resources

Resources for this lesson comprise: student sheet; teacher guidance; practical guidance; presentation; and two short animations. You should also read our standard health & safety guidance [2].

  • Download student sheet, teacher guidance and practical guidance as one PDF [3]
  • Download student sheet, teacher guidance and practical guidance as separate Word documents in a Zip file [4]
  • Download the Putting chemicals into groups PowerPoint presentation [5]
  • Run the Putting chemicals into groups Part 1 animation. [6] You can save the .swf file (517KB) by opening the animation and selecting 'save page as' in your browser's menu.
  • Run the Putting chemicals into groups Part 2 animation. [7] You can save the .swf file (356KB) by opening the animation and selecting 'save page as' in your browser's menu.
 
Quick start guide

For support in using the argumentation approach and to find out more about the research behind it, refer to our quick start guide [8]. 


See also

Practical Chemistry [9]

- Chocolate and structure [10]

- Three colours from the same dye bath [11]

- Allotropes of sulfur [12]

- Electrolysis of zinc chloride [13]

- Electrolytes and non-electrolytes [14]

Practical Biology [15]

Practical Physics [16]

 


Source URL: https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-work-learning/putting-chemicals-groups

Links:
[1] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-work-learning
[2] http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/1634/
[3] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/Chemicals%20in%20groups%20-%20merged%20PDF.pdf
[4] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/Chemicals%20in%20groups%20-%20all%20files.zip
[5] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/TC%20Chemicals%20in%20groups%20-%20Slide%20presentation.pptx
[6] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/Categorising_Chemicals_part_1.swf
[7] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/Categorising_Chemicals_part_2.swf
[8] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/4562
[9] http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/216
[10] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/2916
[11] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/2909
[12] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/2915
[13] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/2918
[14] https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/2923
[15] http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/1662
[16] http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/node/1663