This chemistry video podcast looks at electrostatic forces and how they are responsible for holding solids together. All four fundamental forces (ie strong, weak, gravitational and electrostatic) are considered. "Mindocular' is a fictional character who has a 'minds eye' with excellent magnification and resolution and can 'see' individual particles in matter, and determine their behaviour. He looks at metallic, ionic and covalent solids.

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This chemistry video podcast investigates the reactions of ethanol, 1-butanol (ie butan-1-ol), 2-butanol (ie butan-2-ol) and methyl-2-propanol (ie methylpropan-2-ol) with potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate and sodium metal. We see that tertiary alcohols are less reactive than secondary alcohols, which are less reactive than primary alcohols.

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The pairs of electrons that exist in the valence shells of atoms repel each other as far as possible. This repulsion helps determine the shapes of molecules formed in covalent compounds. This chemistry video podcast shows some of these possible shapes and explains their formation. (Some of you have experienced difficulties with the audio on the previous version of this episode. I have re-recorded the soundtrack in this podcast. Let me know if this solves the problem. Richard)

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This chemistry video podcast demonstrates the laboratory production of oxygen gas, using thistle funnel, conical flask, gas jar, pneumatic trough, behive shelf and hydrogen peroxide decomposition (catalysed by manganese dioxide), its collection via the downward displacement of water and the subsequent testing that can be performed by reignition of a glowing wick.

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This chemistry video podcast looks at the reactions of basic solutions (ie ammonia solution and hydroxide solutions) with solutions of metal salts (ie Mg, Al, FeII, FeIII, Cu, Zn, Ag, and Cr). As well as displaying the appearance of the resulting products, the chemical equations representing the reactions are shown. Demonstrated are the production of the complex ions aluminate, zincate and chromate from addition of excess hydroxide to solutions of the amphoteric metal salts of Al, Zn and Cr. The complex ions produced by addition of excess ammonia with Cu, Zn and Ag are also demonstrated.

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This chemistry video podcast demonstrates the laboratory production of carbon dioxide gas, using thistle funnel, conical flask, gas jar and hydrochloric acid on calcium carbonate, its collection via the upward displacement of air and the subsequent testing that can be performed to illustrate carbon dioxide's properties of density and acidity, as well as the limewater test.

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It has been a long time since my last post, holidays and theft of my laptops have conspired against me. I intend to post some episodes of fundamental chemistry principles this year to help those of you in preliminary chemistry courses, or to be used for revision for others. This video chemistry podcast looks at how ionic compounds form, and how we write formulae to represent the relative amounts of ions in ionic compounds.

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This video chemistry podcasts looks at some aspects of electrochemistry as displayed in standard, simple high school chemistry experiments. The episode investigates standard reduction potentials, the concept of metal displacement, and electrochemical cells.

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This enhanced chemistry podcasts looks at some aspects of electrochemistry as displayed in standard, simple high school chemistry experiments. The episode investigates standard reduction potentials, the concept of metal displacement, and electrochemical cells.

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This video podcast looks at the procedure employed to standardise a potassium permanganate solution by titrating it against a standard solution of oxalic acid. It considers differences between this titration and a typical acid/base titration.

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A simple concept that causes difficulties for students. ie using ionic equations to represent chemical reactions. This chemistry video podcast explains why spectator ions should not be included in a chemical equation.

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This short video chemistry podcast investigates the function of detegent molecules. It answers the questions "How can we wash greasy dishes?" and "Why is milk like 'fatty sweat'??!!"

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This audio chemistry podcast is the soundtrack for the video podcast 'detergents (video) march 4 07'. It investigates the function of detegent molecules.

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This chemistry video podcast looks at the intermolecular forces; dipole-dipole interactions and dispersion forces; that occur between covalent molecules. (There is another episode posted last year that looks at hydrogen bonding.)

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This file is the audio track for the video podcast 'intermolecular forces (video) feb 25 07'. It looks at dipole-dipole interactions and dispersion (london) forces.

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This chemistry video podcast looks how electronegativity determines the type of bond that exists between two atoms, and how the symmetry of the resultant molecule will influence its overall dipole potential.

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This is the audiotrack of the chemistry video podcast 'molecular polarity (video) feb 18 07'. It looks at the concpt of electronegativity and how it influences bond and molecular polarity.

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This chemistry video podcast looks at defining ionisation energy and explaining trends and periodicity of values for ionisation energy in the periodic table. I look at factors which influence the ease with which electrons may be removed from atoms.

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This chemistry podcast is the audio track for my video podcast 'Ionisation Energy (video) feb 11 07'. It looks at defining ionisation energy and explaining trends and periodicity of values for ionisation energy in the periodic table.

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This podcast looks at how the modern model of the atom was developed.

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The pairs of electrons that exist in the valence shells of atoms repel each other as far as possible. This repulsion helps determine the shapes of molecules formed in covalent compounds. This podcast shows some of these possible shapes and explains their formation.

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Hi, this audio file is a copy of the soundtrack from the podcast 'valence shell electron pair repulsion (video) jan 27 07'. I hope that these audio files prove useful. Please let me know, one way or another.

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Hi, this audio file is a copy of the soundtrack for the previous podcast (ie the first 20 elements (video file) (jan 23 07)). I hope that these audio files prove useful. Please let me know, one way or another.

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Hi, and welcome back to this year's chemistry podcasts. We'll start the year simply with an acronym to help you remember the first twenty elements in order. I will try to post a separate audio file (ie the sound track for the video podcast) for each episode this year, so that if your mp3 player doesn't have video capabilities, you can still listen to the episodes when you are out and about. Please let me know if you think these audio files are useful.

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In this podcast I look at how pH is determined, what it means, some examples, and some important equilibria.

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I won't be able to put up another episode for a couple of weeks as all my spare time will be taken up marking TEE papers! This podcast looks at hydrogen bonds, how they form, what effects they have and their importance to life on Earth.

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This podcast follows up the previous one on hydrogen fuel cells. In it I mentioned the Hindenburg airship, but have been contacted by a few people who didn't know about it. I've put together a few facts, pics and video of it (including one of its safe landings in the US) as a starting point if you want to research it.

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Hydrogen fuel cells offer a possible solution to mankind's future energy needs. This video podcast gives a brief introduction. These cells like all electrochemical cells are essentially reliant on a redox reaction ie exchange of electrons. In Western Australia, along with other parts of the world, hydrogen fuel celled buses are being trialled. I have written a lot of educational materials for teachers and students based on the Western Australian trial. These materials have been used by teachers and students in many countries and can be located for download at http://www.gdc.asn.au/ecobus/ . I hope you can take the time to have a look and let me know if you find them useful.

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When is a fatal car accident 'successful'? When used to explain reaction rates and collision theory. This may be a bit ghoulish, but comparing car collisions to particle collisions seems to work.

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How do you write and balance redox equations? An earlier podcast explained how to write and balance half equations. This podcasts shows how to combine two half equations and arrive at a balanced overall redox equation.

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This episode looks at the equilibrium that exists between nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide to illustrate Le Chatelier's principle. (If you click on the play button you will only see part of the screen, so I suggest that you download this file before viewing.)

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Redox equation balancing need not fill you with fear. Blindly following these rules and you will be able to write a balanced half equation.

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Its exam time. I've just finished marking some chemistry exams, and thought that it might be a good time to post some strategies to use to answer typical questions. ie How can you write an equation for, and determine what you would observe, in a chemical reaction?

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High school chemistry calculations are often dressed up to appear to be more difficult than they really are. They just about always follow the same format. However I've just finished marking some chemistry exams and felt compelled to post this podcast. It describes the method that you should employ to solve high school chemistry calculations. (If you tried the sample calculation you should have got the answers (a)3.42A and (b) 5.50kg.)

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I've been busy lately, and haven't had time to generate anything new myself. I forget where I got this video from, but it is a beauty. Makes you remember why you first got interested in chemistry ......... explosions! (This file is 15Mb so you will have to wait for a bit .... but it will be worth it!)

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The first in a series of casts explaining the method used to name simple hydrocarbons.

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Some of my class were singing 'Gimme Gimme a Redox Titration' today - it inspired me to post this acid/base version (to Bohemian Rhapsody).

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 Its been a while since I last posted .... been very busy. Have just tried new software for this post; a very brief introduction to hydrocarbons and organic chemistry. Hopefully more will follow.

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You asked for it!! Here is the 'Gimme Gimme' redox titration karaoke. Let me know if you like these type of files..... I've got plenty of them!!!!!!!

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Follow these simple rules and you will always be able to determine the oxidation state of an element.

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A very brief recap of year 11 redox terminology and definitions. (vodcast)

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The other day in class Elle was using her lip gloss. Here is a video of what we saw. What is going on? (vodcast)

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Some introductory notes about naming covalent compounds. (Audio is from The Grates 'Science is Golden' -'Gravity Won't Get You High') (vodcast)

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Equilibrium is a dynamic process, much like a game of footy. (audio)

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OK so now you've performed a titration how can you make use of the data that you have collected? (audio)

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How do we select an appropriate indicator for use in a variety of acid/base titrations? (audio)

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How do we select a chemical for use as a primary standard? And what is a primary standard anyway? (audio)

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This audio discusses the cause of polar bonds and polar molecules. (audio)

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The second of two short podcsts on covalent bonding. This one looks at the intermolecular forces in covalent solids, ie Van der Waal forces. (audio)

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A brief description of the factors that control the rate of a chemical reaction. (audio)

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The first of two brief descriptionsof covalent bonding. This podcast looks at primary covalent bonds. (audio)

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A brief description of metallic bonding. (audio)

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This presentation compares collision theory to a foot y game. (vodcast)

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A brief description of ionic bonding. (audio)

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A video file describing equipment used in titration experiments. (vodcast)

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