Welcome to Week 10 of Year 7 Chemistry! This week, we’ll explore the chemistry of our environment, focusing on air and water pollution, and learn how filtration can clean water. We’ll also delve into the groundbreaking work of August Kekulé, who uncovered the structure of benzene—a discovery that changed the world of organic chemistry.
Hour 1: Understanding Air and Water Pollution
Learning Objectives
By the end of this hour, you will:
Learn about the causes and effects of air and water pollution.
Understand the role of chemistry in addressing environmental challenges.
Read and Watch
Watch: 'Air, Water and Land Pollution', how we can stop water pollution by NGS.
Watch: 'A Brief History of Plastics' by Ted Ed.
Task: Pollution in Your Area
Research one source of air or water pollution near your home.
Reflect: How does this pollution affect people and the environment?
Present your findings to your grown-up or group of friends. You could make a video, a poster or a piece of art to explain and highlight this pollution problem and what can be done about it.
Hour 2: Cleaning Water with Filtration
Learning Objectives
By the end of this hour, you will:
Understand how water filtration works.
Build a simple water filter to clean dirty water.
Practical Activity: Building a Water Filter
What You Need:
A plastic bottle
Scissors
Sand
Gravel
Cotton or a coffee filter
Dirty water (e.g., water with soil or small debris)
Steps:
Cut the bottom off the plastic bottle to create a funnel shape.
Place the cotton or coffee filter at the narrow end.
Add a layer of sand, then a layer of gravel, inside the bottle.
Pour the dirty water through the filter and observe the changes.
Reflection Questions:
How clean did the water look after filtration?
What role did each layer (cotton, sand, gravel) play in cleaning the water?
Watch: 'How does Water Treatment Work' by Fuse School.
Hour 3: August Kekulé and the Structure of Benzene
Learning Objectives
By the end of this hour, you will:
Learn about August Kekulé’s discovery of the structure of benzene.
Understand why this discovery was pivotal in the field of organic chemistry.
Read and Watch
Read: A biography of August Kekulé.
Task: The Benzene Story
Research and Reflect: How did this discovery influence the development of synthetic materials and medicines?
Quick Activity: Drawing Benzene
Draw the structure of benzene, including the six carbon atoms and alternating double bonds.
Research one product made using benzene and describe its importance.
Summary and Reflection
Reflect on the Week:
What did you learn about the importance of clean air and water?
How did building a water filter help you understand pollution solutions?
Why was August Kekulé’s discovery of benzene so revolutionary?
Looking Ahead: Next week, we’ll explore chemistry in the kitchen and learn how chemical changes occur when we cook. Get ready for some tasty experiments!
Fantastic, you have finished week 10!
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