This section builds on the work covered in Year 7.  It starts with the definition of an element and then, through a series of practical activities, gets the boys to classify the elements depending on their properties into metals and non-metals.  Towards the end of the section the chemistry is extended to introduce the idea of atoms and atomic symbols and the boys have an opportunity to design their own practical investigation.

 

 

 

 

This second section looks at the components that make up air.  The boys will prove that air contains water and will learn two chemical tests for water.  They will then look at the reactions of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen with copper and will prove that oxygen makes up 20% of the air.

 

 

This section focuses on oxygen - the second most abundant element in the air.  The boys with identify and use the test for oxygen and will learn how substances behave differently in air and in oxygen.  They will be introduced to the term 'catalyst' and will see how a catalyst can be used to make oxygen in the laboratory.  The section will finish with combustion and the fire triangle and the boys will be taught how to extinguish a fire.

 

 

This colourful section deals with common laboratory acids and alkalis.  Through a range of practical activities the boys will discover the colours produced by different indicators when they are in either acidic or alkaline conditions.  This concept is then developed to introduce the pH scale.  To finish, the boys will carry out an investigation to identify how acidic or alkaline different household chemicals are.

 

The penultimate section of the year deals with the physical and chemical properties and the production of the explosive gas hydgrogen.  The boys will identify and use the test for hydrogen and will react different metals with acid in order to produce hydrogen at different rates.  They will then be able to identify a reactivity series of the metals. 

 

 

The final section of the year deals with the expensive and destructive reaction that produces corrosion and in iron's case, rusting.  A series of carefully designed practical activities guide the boys to reach a conclusion about the causes of rusting.  Through discussion and further practical sessions the boys will learn methods of prevention of rusting and how to slow down and speed up rusting.