Teach Exciting Chemistry Practicals

Nothing gets a class's attention like a bang, and chemistry has plenty of them. The trick is making sure each one teaches something about combustion, reaction rates or bonding at KS3 and KS4.

You'll see all 10 demonstrations done, with the method and the safety points for each. Set fire to a banknote without burning it, which is a good one for open evenings. Snap glow sticks in hot and iced water to show temperature changing the rate of a reaction. Solve a murder with forensic chromatography or mock urine samples. There's slime, a custard powder explosion and hydrogen going bang in a fizzy drinks bottle too.

The exploding can leads into complete and incomplete combustion, and a conversation about carbon monoxide that matters well beyond the exam.