KS3 & KS4 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Acids and bases, where they explored chemical properties and reactions of substances. It deepens their understanding by examining different materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics, and their properties and uses. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Using Earth's resources, where they will apply their knowledge to explore the sustainable use of natural resources, material extraction, and the environmental impact of human activity, reinforcing the link between chemistry and real-world applications.

1. Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers
2. Structure of polymers
3. The reactivity series for metals
4. Chemical reactions: displacement of metals
5. Catalysts

• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, they are strong, shiny, malleable and ductile.
• Non-metals are normally poor conductors of heat and electricity, they are not strong, and are dull and brittle.
• Graphite is a non-metal that is an electrical conductor.
• When a metal reacts with acid bubbles may form, the temperature rises and the metal reduces in size or disappears.
• Not all metals react with an acid.
• The word equation for a metal and acid reaction is: metal + acid ⭢ salt + hydrogen.