Chemical misconceptions
We’ve all come across chemical misconceptions and part of our job as chemistry teachers it to try to combat them. For example, would you eat something that contains octadecadienoic acid, hexadecaenoic...
A problem with scandium
(Note: This blog was first written in February 2013 and referred to the 2007 programme (for last exams in 2015). See the update added at the end which concerns the new (2014) programme.) The IUPAC Compendium...
Be careful when you do a demonstration
The reaction of sodium with water is often demonstrated by a teacher as it is not recommended that students do the reaction for themselves. It would appear that this is the experiment being performed...
Malt whiskey and ppm
I stayed last week on the Scottish Isle of Arran and spent one morning enjoying a very practical application (‘Utilization’) of chemistry by going round the Isle of Arran distillery. As well as seeing...
Motion sickness drugs
What do the drugs scopolamine and cinnarizine have in common? Both are used to prevent motion sickness (sea-sickness) effectively. Since many of your students (and me!) are likely to suffer from motion...
New Study Guide published today
My new Study Guide for the 2014 programme (first examinations in 2016) is published today. The previous editions, which cover the 2007 programme, were (and still are) extremely popular with students and...
How big is a sodium atom?
The new IB data booklet which is available on the OCC has some very different data in it for atomic (and ionic) radii compared to previous versions. For example: It looks as if the radius of sodium atoms,...
Antioxidants in red wine
Antioxidants feature quite highly in the current IB Chemistry programme - particularly in Option F - Food Chemistry. Assessment statement F. 8.1 covers how antioxidants work and stresses the importance...
Make graphene in your kitchen?
How about some kitchen chemistry to make graphene? The structure of graphite has been known for a long time. It consists of sp2 hybridized carbon atoms strongly bonded to three other carbon atoms to...
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IB Chemistry environmental issues
One of the most important aspects of the new IB chemistry programme for first exams in 2016 is the emphasis put on environmental chemistry. Topics such as global warming, acid deposition and ozone depletion...