Photo by Stephen Codrington Licensed under CC-Attribution 2.5 Generic

According to the CfE Experiences and Outcomes document:

Learners develop their knowledge and understanding of substances that make up the Earth’s surface. Properties, uses and methods of extraction of such materials are explored. Opportunities exist to discuss the importance of carbon compounds derived from crude oil to our lives.

Below you will find links to Level 4 SSERC chemistry activities to help teaching this area.

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Through evaluation of a range of data, I can describe the formation, characteristics and uses of soils, minerals and basic types of rocks.

Rocks and Minerals (workshop) – A series of simple experiments to make samples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic ‘rocks’.

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I can participate in practical activities to extract useful substances from natural resources.

Antioxidants (workshop)  – A Range of investigations to look at antioxidant levels in fruits and teas (though the method can be adapted for any antioxidant).

Biodiesel (workshop) – A range of experiments based around the production and testing of Biodiesel from vegetable oil.

Concrete chemistry (workshop) – A series of activities looking at cement and concrete.

Flash Chromatography (workshop) – Flash chromatography carried out in a syringe – using talc (or cornflour) – can be used to separate samples of food dyes or plant pigments.

Lip Balm (workshop) – Activities researching and then making lip balms.

Oil from coffee grounds – not technically an oil but a simple method for extracting an oil-like mixture of terpenoids from coffee grounds that can be used as a fuel.

Shampoo (workshop) – Activity to make shampoo, involving steam distillation to extract natural essences.

Silicon and Silanes from Sand (Demo) – Making silicon and silane from the reaction between magnesium and silicon dioxide (sand).