The newest addition to the Learn Chemistry resource bank is one of our older legacy materials. However, despite its age, it is still relevant and definitely worth a place on any teacher's bookshelf as a reference. Modern Chemical Techniques provides chemistry teachers with resource materials and background information on chemical methods.

We recognise that chemistry teachers come from a variety of backgrounds, and this book caters for teachers who are familiar with modern chemical techniques, as well as for those teachers that will find them unfamiliar. The book covers much of the basic theory of the technique without emphasising too heavily the maths or physics involved.

The topics covered include mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, chromatography and electron microscopy. The final chapter, Following a Synthetic Route, shows how spectra change as a molecule is modified to the target molecule Ibuprofen, in a chemical synthesis, including data from mass, infrared, and NMR spectral investigations.

An example of the NMR spectra from the book is shown below:

Learn Chemistry is still growing, and the newest addition is July's legacy resource - The Nature of Science.  Through 4 very different activities, The Nature of Science helps students to discover how science actually works in the real world.

So many people see science as a black and white subject, and scientists as all-knowing. This is far removed from the reality of science, where creativity, controversy and confusion all have a role to play in advancing our understanding of the world around us! The Nature of Science resources show students how there is so much left to be discovered, and hopefully help to inspire a new generation of scientists.

The Nature of Science includes 4 activities:

• Concept Cartoons
• Scurvy - The Mystery Disease
• Measurement, Accuracy and Precision
• Black Box

A cartoon from "Scurvy - the mystery disease" which asks students to think about the difference between early and modern scientific thinking.

Aimed at students aged 11-16, these activities are suitable for students of different abilities and learning styles, and can be easily adapated to suit differing groups. Each resource can be used to link together many cross-curricular themes in chemistry, and provide an understanding of the social and political factors that influence scientific progress.
The resources all contain detailed instructions for teachers and handouts for students, together with advice on how to adapt the lessons for different groups.

We hope they can help to communicate the wonder and excitement of science to all students!