Chemistry in society

Chemistry in society
- Metals
  We use metals in everyday life, for example in jewellery or cars. They have many uses due to their properties which include strength, malleability, conduction of electricity and conduction of heat.
- Plastics
  Plastics are widely used as they have many useful properties. Most plastics and synthetic fibres are made from chemicals derived from crude oil and are made up of long chain molecules called polymers.
- Fertilisers
  There are two types of fertilisers: natural which is made from plant and animal waste, and artificial which is man-made. By using fertilisers, farmers are able to grow more crops on a field.
- Nuclear chemistry
  Nuclear chemistry is the study of the breakup of unstable nuclei, which results in the emission of radiation and energy. There are three types of radiation; alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ).
- Chemical analysis
  Chemists monitor our environment using a variety of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. The results from quantitative analysis are used in calculations that give essential information.
Video playlist
- Half-life. Video
  Radioactivity is measured in the number of nuclear decays an object has per second
- Flame testing. Video
  Some metals change the colour of a flame, allowing you to determine what metal it is
- Combustion reactions for hydrocarbons. Video
  Hydrocarbons react with oxygen to create carbon dioxide and water which releases heat.
- Titration and making fertilisers. Video
  Titration lets you calculate the concentration of acids or alkalis using an indicator
- Precipitation reactions. Video
  Combining two soluble salts causes a precipitation reaction
- What are fertilisers? Video
  Explaining how fertilisers are used in the continued growth of healthy food crops
- Polymers and monomers. Video
  How chains of molecules called monomers combine to make the polymers used in plastics
- Reaction of metal and acid. Video
  Explaining how metals above hydrogen on the electrochemical series react with acids
- Radiation. Video
  Explaining the properties of the three kinds of radiation - alpha, beta and gamma
- The uses of polymers. Video
  An explanation of what polymers are and some of their uses.
- Use of radioisotopes. Video
  Radioisotopes are used to detect and treat cancer and have various uses in industry
- National 5 - The Haber process. Video
  Explaining how ammonia is a used in the production of fertilisers using the Haber process
- Metals. Video
  Explaining the structure and reactivity of various metals

Video playlist

Links