Year 7 Chemical World: What is everything made up of?
Year 7 term 1
NSW Syllabus CW1: The properties of the different states of matter can be explained regarding the motion and arrangement of particles.

General videos
Differences between different states of matter( video)
Particles in solids.liquids and gases( click view video)
Properties and modelling of matter
- How do we use the Metric System?
- How does matter behave?
- How does heat affect matter?
- How can we model matter?Are there any limitations to our models?
- What happens to matter when it changes state such as ;
- evaporates
- condenses
- boils
- melts
- freezes

Experiments with matter (videos)
- heating and matter- ball and ring activity
- warm air rises- demonstration with hot water and a balloon
- Gas pressure demonstrations and activities
- exploring air and air pressure- balloon in a bottle
Additional content Outline how some historical developments have contributed to evidence that has advanced our understanding of the particle model of matter.
States of Matter Quiz
What is density and how can we use it to describe properties of matter?
- A quick video on density including examples.
- A video that relates density to floating and sinking and buoyancy
- How taking a bath led to Archimedes principle, a TED-Ed lesson

Additional content
- investigate the nature of mineral crystals
- Why does ice float? A TED-ed lesson with questions
- explain the changes in pressure of gases regarding increases or decreases in the frequency of particle collisions.
- Heat and pressure on matter( video animation and explanation with some more interesting and advanced concepts)

How do scientists describe and classify matter?
- Matter can be classified using a flow diagram. The information comes from this site.
Mass, matter volume tutorials
Oche, a type of metal oxide, is widely used and traded by the
Year 7 Chemical World: How can we obtain useful materials by utilising the physical properties of a substance?
NSW Syllabus CW3: Mixtures, including solutions, contain a combination of pure substances that can be separated using a range of techniques.

Why do mixtures need to be separated?
- How do we separate the seemingly inseparable? (TED video)
- Separating mixtures ( click view video) with questions
- Importance of separating substances( click view)
- What is a mixture and why are they important?
What type of mixture is a solution?
- Describe aqueous mixtures regarding solute, solvent, and solution
- Why is water an essential solvent in the world around us?
Solubility and the importance of water as a solvent ( click view)
How do the following separation techniques help to separate mixtures?
Here is a link to the theory and video that explains these techniques. This page also has additional animations and interactive simulators( with a free sign up)
General separation video ( click view sign in)
- filtration
filtration in everyday life ( vid)
- decantation
- evaporation
- crystallisation
- chromatography
- distillation
Separating the components of air via fractional distillation (click view)
How are some of the above separation techniques used in everyday life?
Look at the examples below.
Water filtration
Potable water and water treatment plants( click view sign in)
The water treatment process youtube video showing various separation methods to make clean drinking water from dams.
Waste sorting
Sewage and wastewater treatment ( click view sign in)
Using distillation to separate substances that are mixed together as a solution
- Distillation(click view sign in)
-
Fractional Distillation – How we make crude oil useful a TED-ed video
- Tea tree( melaleuca) oil uses The Bundjalung community identified many ways to use these plants and modern science has enabled the extraction of the oils in a more efficient way. Widely used as a distilled essential oil in alternative remedies today, the production of tea tree oil (melaleuca) is one of the oldest agricultural industries still in operation in the Ballina region.

Using a centrifuge to separate various size particles in a mixture
- The process of centrifugation experiment demonstration and theory
- separate blood using a centrifuge a quick video
- extracting ancient DNA from organisms( more advanced concepts)
Chromatography
- using chromatography to solve a crime ” fraud detective” CSIRO silver Crest award from British Science Association.
Year 8 Chemical World: How can we obtain useful materials by utilising the chemical properties of a substance?
Year 8 term 2
NSW Syllabus CW2: Scientific knowledge and developments in technology have changed our understanding of the structure and properties of matter.
Properties of matter continued: Elements and compounds
- What are some properties and uses of metal and non-metal elements?
- How has our use of technologies changed how we understand the structure and properties of elements?
- What is an element?
- How do we write the name of elements in symbols?
- What makes elements, compounds, and mixtures different from each other? Watch this video to find out more.
- What are the names and symbols of some common compounds?
Some common compounds found around your home and in the products you use.
Theodore Gray website on elements in the periodic table includes amazing examples of uses of every element.
Making new substances out of elements and compounds
NSW Syllabus CW4: In a chemical change, new substances are formed, which may have specific properties related to their uses in everyday life.
- Glossary of introduction to chemicals and reactions
- A lesson and video on the conservation of mass by TED ed.
Signs of a chemical change
- How do we know a chemical change has taken place?
Video tutorial on the differences between physical and chemical changes
2. How is the arrangement of particles different in a physical and chemical change? Which one can be reversed?
Conduct an investigation to demonstrate that a chemical change involves substances reacting to form new materials.The following are links to videoes showing simple demonstrations involving physical and chemical change.
Physical and chemical change theory revision
Chemical reactions sustain life
Investigate everyday chemical reactions like photosynthesis, respiration and chemical weathering.

- respiration

Photosystems and respiration are linked

- chemical weathering- how do caves form?

How have different cultures used their understanding of elements and compounds to make useful objects such as weapons and tools?
Some examples by Australian Indigenous peoples include;
- Mining by Australian Aboriginal people
- Historical timeline showing use of metals from various ancient cultures

Other examples
- Smelting copper using a traditional prehistoric method ( video)
- Making a metal sword using casting (video)

Why should society support scientific research into the knowledge of new chemicals and substances?
Describe, using examples, how scientific knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines of science, e.g. making or obtaining new substances from Earth’s spheres
You could discuss this by thinking about the development of new pharmaceutical and the development of polymers used in industry
Additional content
- discuss the cost and benefits to society of the development of new materials
- investigate how the chemical properties of a substance will affect its use, e.g. flammability and ability to corrode
- research how knowledge of physical properties of natural materials is used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in everyday life, e.g. tools, weapons, utensils, shelter, housing or bush medicine
Spinifex resin is a thermoplastic bio-molecule used extensively throughout Australia by Aboriginal people. Both men and women are involved in the processing of the resin.
