Search results

Listed under:  Science  >  Matter  >  Chemical reactions
Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Fountain of fizz

Have you ever wondered how many bubbles there are in a bottle of soft drink? What if they all shot out the bottle at the same time in a fountain of fizz! Watch as Ruben Meerman, the Surfing Scientist explores where bubbles come from and how they form, with spectacular results!

Video

Experimentals: Make your own rocket fuel...!?!

You know what happens when the pressure in a bottle reaches extreme levels: KABOOM! Discover with Ruben and Bernie how mixing together some everyday household chemicals can fuel a fizzy fountain or a model rocket, with spectacular results. This is chemistry in motion.

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Chemical catalysts

Have you ever heard of a catalyst? Watch as the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman, demonstrates the power of a catalyst. He adds one to just two other ingredients to create a chemical reaction with spectacular foaming results - just like elephant toothpaste!

Video

Magic tricks revealed using chemistry

Some magic tricks, such as disappearing ink or candles that won't blow out, can be explained by chemistry. In this clip, three classroom chemistry experiments demonstrate that some familiar magic tricks rely on acid-base chemical reactions, and the properties and behaviour of gases. Watch closely if you've ever wanted to ...

Video

The bang behind fireworks!

Ever wondered how fireworks are created? In this clip, pyrotechnics expert John Conkling describes the chemical and physical components of fireworks, and demonstrates many coloured explosions in a laboratory. Discover that a fireworks display is a chemical reaction between an oxidiser such as potassium nitrate and a fuel ...

Audio

Water-powered engine theories need hosing down

This ABC article by Dr Karl addresses the question: will we one day be able to power cars with water? The chemical reactions involved in the formation and decomposition of water are described. Energy transformations are explained. A very useful resource to get students thinking.

Video

For the Juniors: Making Bread in a Factory

Have you ever wondered how your sandwich bread is made? This clip shows the story of bread, beginning with flour being loaded into a truck. Watch big machines mix the dough. See your bread being baked, then packed ready for the shop.

Interactive

pH scale

Students use this resource consisting of eight slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that pH is a measure of the strength of an acid or alkali and how to interpret the colours of universal indicator solution. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Video

Structures and Bonding

This simulation allows students to explore the chemical reactions between hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and chlorine. They can form water, carbon dioxide, hydrochloric acid, ammonia and methane. Word and chemical equations are provided. The diagrams distinguish single, double and triple bonds and shapes of molecules.

Video

Dyeing with red cabbage!

Many natural products, such as red cabbage and turmeric, can be used as a natural source of colour to dye fibres. Watch the dyeing demonstration in this clip to see how. Discover the chemistry of natural dyes, including the bonding properties of different pigments and how acid-base reactions can alter the colour of pH-sensitive ...

Text

Integrated gasification combined cycle

Find out how emissions from coal-burning can be reduced by turning the coal into syngas. This is a fact sheet describing methods of coal gasification, and how the resulting syngas can drive a combined cycle power generator. It lists the advantages of the technology, including lower emissions and increased efficiency, as ...

Interactive

Copper processing

This interactive activity allows students to explore the processes involved in the mining and processing of copper ore and the production of copper. Students initially put the processes in the correct sequence and then select each stage to animate it and access relevant information. The smelting stage includes an activity ...

Audio

Mercury is released as coal is burnt in power stations

This resource describes research into environmental disease resulting from the heavy metal mercury. It is estimated 60,000 babies are born each year in the United States with mercury-related diseases from the burning of coal in power stations. World wide, this is a significant problem. Mercury also enters the environment ...

Video

ABC News: Hydrogen-diesel engine

How might we reduce damaging emissions from diesel engines and increase their fuel efficiency at the same time? Watch as Dr Vishi Karri from the University of Tasmania describes the development of a new type of engine: the hybrid hydrogen-diesel engine. Dr Hafez A Hafez explains how the technology can be easily adapted ...

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Making a mini-rocket

Have you ever seen someone create a rocket using a soft drink bottle? In this clip, Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman attempts to 'supersize science'. You will find out how he made a model rocket and see slow-motion footage of the rocket as it shoots up into the sky.

Interactive

Differences between Photosynthesis and Respiration

Students use this resource consisting of four slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the differences between photosynthesis and respiration. These are summarised in word equations. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Text

Floating froth experiment

Find out how to use froth to separate minerals from unwanted rock. This is an activity sheet giving instructions for a simple experiment that demonstrates how froth flotation works. It includes a blank data table.

Text

All about hydrogen

This is a fact sheet providing information on how we produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The uses of hydrogen are briefly discussed and information is provided about hydrogen fuel cells.

Interactive

Why is the ozone hole bigger in the less polluted southern hemisphere?

This article provides an excellent model of a scientific explanation. It addresses the question "if the atmosphere in the northern hemisphere is much more polluted than it is in the southern hemisphere, why is there an ozone hole in the south and not in the north?"

Video

Atoms of Fire: Atoms and organic compounds

Can you imagine someone who lived over 2400 years ago saying that all matter is made up of atoms? Democritus, an ancient Greek, did. Explore the history of this scientific idea with chemist Amanda Tilbury. Hear how Swedish scientist Jöns Berzelius postulated much later that only living tissue could make an organic compound ...