Science / Year 9 / Science Understanding / Chemical sciences

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Can you imagine someone who lived over 2400 years ago saying that all matter is made up of atoms? Democritus, an ancient Greek, did. Explore the history of this scientific idea with chemist Amanda Tilbury. Hear how Swedish scientist Jöns Berzelius postulated much later that only living tissue could make an organic compound ...

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Have you ever heard of a catalyst? Watch as the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman, demonstrates the power of a catalyst. He adds one to just two other ingredients to create a chemical reaction with spectacular foaming results - just like elephant toothpaste!

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Imagine the possibilities if we could turn the most abundant element in the universe into a source of fuel. Watch as the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman, investigates the properties of hydrogen and then demonstrates its potential as a fuel when he sets fire to hydrogen-filled soap bubbles.

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This interactive simulation explores balancing chemical equations. In a series of simulations students balance chemical equations; explore how the number of atoms of each element is conserved in a chemical reaction and translate from symbolic to molecular representations of matter. The resource does not require registration ...

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This study guide examines ways Australian cattle and sheep farmers are monitoring and researching how greenhouse gas emissions are being produced by farms and steps farmers use to reduce them. This includes selective breeding programs to produce cattle and sheep whose digestive processes emit less methane, research into ...

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Are we approaching the 'age of megafires'? It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but some scientists believe there is cause for concern. Watch this clip to find out how bushfires as we know them are changing. Discover why.

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Ecosystems are affected by many factors including increasing temperatures, which many scientists believe threaten natural systems on Earth today. This creative clip uses a theoretical world of black and white daisies to show how changes to the natural reflectivity of a planet's surface impacts temperatures and populations. ...

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This 12 minute video segment from Catalyst is an excellent resource for students researching how oceans influence conditions on Earth's surface. It demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of using models in science and how our understanding is open to revision as more information comes to light.

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This ABC In Depth feature article discusses the projections of how long will our energy resources will last given that our need for fossil fuels is insatiable, but coal, oil, gas and uranium reserves are finite and some may even be in decline. This article is comprehensive, but it is dated at 2008.

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This five and a half minute video segment from Catalyst discusses the potential to manage controlled burning in Arnhem that reduces frequency of wildfires to provide other benefits. The potential to turn this into economic benefits from carbon trading is explored and the science investigations that will first be essential.