Science / Year 10 / Science Understanding / Chemical sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

The atomic structure and properties of elements are used to organise them in the Periodic Table (ACSSU186)

Elaborations
  • recognising that elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar properties
  • describing the structure of atoms in terms of electron shells
  • explaining how the electronic structure of an atom determines its position in the periodic table and its properties
  • investigating the chemical activity of metals
ScOT terms

Properties of matter,  Atoms

Video

The Reactivity Series of metals

Students use this simulation to investigate the differences between potassium, sodium, iron and gold in reactivity with water in the construction of a bridge. Teachers have to explain how the reactivity series of metals can be determined by considering their reaction with oxygen, water and acid, and how to use the reactivity ...

Video

Displacement Reactions

Students use this interactive to test five metals in an iron sulfate solution to see if a reaction will occur and understand that more reactive metals such as magnesium, aluminium and zinc will displace less reactive ones such as iron from their compounds.

Interactive

Sites2See: Light and Matter

Links to resources to explore fundamental questions about light and matter and the application of the physics of light and matter to the past, the future and to space. Includes a quick quiz, links to additional DEC NSW physics resources and to the International Science School at the University of Sydney.

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Climate science analysis from The Conversation

This is a collection of articles about climate science. It includes articles about modelling, explanations about heat trends, predictions about sea level rise, and why the science about climate change is clear. The articles are written in plain language and are authored by experts from universities in Australia and around ...

Video

The Reaction of Metals with Acid

Students use this simulation to learn that react with hydrochloric acid to produce salt and hydrogen and find out how to test for hydrogen gas. The notice that sodium reacts violently and that magnesium reacts more quickly than zinc but that the hydrogen gas test is positive for both. Word equations are provided for all reactions.

Audio

Chemicals on the Great Barrier Reef

This program deals with a range of human impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. Herbicides from land runoff have been traced to algae and sea grasses in river mouths and coastal zones along the Great Barrier Reef. Effects include retardation of photosynthesis and growth of corals. Other pressures on the reef include high water ...

Interactive

Fermentation

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about fermentation and useful microorganisms. It includes the use of terms such as enzymes and anaerobic respiration.

Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Jeremy Leggett

An interview with Dr Jeremy Leggett, global environmental expert from Solarcentury in the UK. Jeremy talks to a teacher from Leumeah High School about global warming, fossil fuels and the design of carbon neutral buildings.

Interactive

Sites2See: Nuclear jeopardy

Resources to help understand and debate the issues around continuing and future use of nuclear energy after the nuclear accidents in 2011 at Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini and after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Includes links to sites and information for both sides of the nuclear energy debate, including information ...

Video

Monkey Malaria

This 13 minute video segment from Catalyst describes recent research in Borneo investigates malaria that is common to monkeys and humans.

Interactive

Science talk 2007: Adam Cawley

An interview with Adam Cawley, a chemist and scientist from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, who is an expert in drug testing in sport. Adam talks to a teacher from Killara High School about working as a chemist, and the challenges in drug testing.

Interactive

Digestion Experiments

This resource consists of 3 sets of illustrated slides with voice over presenting detailed information and explanations of an experiment used to investigate the action of amylase on starch and the optimum pH for the action of protease on egg white protein. Results are provided and interpreted using tables and graphs. More ...

Video

Drought culprit

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.

Interactive

Sites2See: What is climate change?

A page to address the question What is climate change? from the definition, to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as the foremost authority, and selected links covering aspects of that question with games, graphics, activities, information sites, resource packs and video interviews, for teachers and students. ...

Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Tim Entwistle

An interview and tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney and its herbarium with Dr Tim Entwistle, a plant scientist and the NSW Government Botanist. Tim talks to a pre-service teacher from Macquarie University about his love of plants, in particular freshwater algae. In the herbarium we find out why it is so important ...

Interactive

Aerobic Respiration

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about aerobic respiration and compares respiration with burning.

Interactive

Composition of inhaled and exhaled air

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about how the process of respiration changes the composition of gases present in inhaled and exhaled air. The second set demonstrates experiments to show that carbon dioxide and water vapour are exhaled.

Interactive

Uses of some Elements

Students use this resource consisting of ten slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that the properties of some metals relate to how they are used. It also explains why alloys have been produced and how they are used. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Audio

Green glow of radiation

Coming into contact with a large dose of radiation is known to be hazardous. But will it make you light up like a car dashboard at night? Some anecdotes that will engage the students to learn about radioactivity while dispelling a few myths.

Video

Change of State

This simulation allows students to change the temperature and observe the changes at macro and micro level to water. It reinforces the Particle Theory.