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Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Nanoparticles

I can compare the sizes of microscopic and submicroscopic ‘particles’ using scientific notation, as well as discuss a variety of applications using nanoparticle technology.

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New
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Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Nanoparticles

I can compare the sizes of microscopic and submicroscopic ‘particles’ using scientific notation, as well as discuss a variety of applications using nanoparticle technology.

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Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The prefixes milli-, micro-, nano-, and pico-, in this order, subdivide a metre into smaller and smaller divisions.
  2. Nanoparticles are 1-100 nm in size, and are larger than atoms and molecules.
  3. The smaller a particle, the bigger its surface area to volume ratio.
  4. Nanotubes are very small and extremely strong fibres that are thermal and electrical conductors.
  5. Nanoparticles have many applications; new applications for nanoparticulate materials are an important area of research.

Common misconception

Pupils might think all nanoparticles are hazardous without considering their varied applications and benefits.

Clarify that while nanoparticles may pose risks, they also offer significant benefits in medicine, technology, and environmental protection, with risks varying by type and usage.

Keywords

  • Nanometre - A unit used to measure very small distances, equal to 10⁻⁹ metres or one billionth of a metre.

  • Nanoparticle - A very small particle, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometres in size.

  • Standard form - Written in the form a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is any positive or negative integer.

  • Nanoparticulate - A material composed of nanoparticles.

  • Surface area to volume ratio - The total surface area of an object divided by its volume.

Encourage discussions comparing the size and scale of nanoparticles to everyday objects and phenomena. Use analogies and visual comparisons, such as comparing a nanoparticle to a football in relation to Earth, to help pupils grasp the concept of scale.
Teacher tip

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A beaker contains 5 red beads, 9 yellow beads and 7 blue beads. Which of the following ratios are correct?
Correct answer: The ratio of yellow beads to blue beads is 9 : 7.
The ratio of blue beads to red beads is 5 : 7.
Correct answer: The ratio of yellow beads to red beads is 9 : 5.
The ratio of red beads to blue beads is 7 : 5.
Q2.
Place the following prefixes in order of size, starting with the largest.
1 - kilo-
2 - deci-
3 - centi-
4 - milli-
Q3.
What type of bond can be found between carbon atoms in materials such as diamond?
Correct answer: Covalent bonds.
Intermolecular forces.
Ionic bonds.
Metallic bonds.
Q4.
Giant covalent structures have a high melting and boiling point because the covalent bonds need a lot of to be broken.
Correct Answer: energy
Q5.
What is a nanotube?
Correct answer: A fullerene in the shape of a cylinder.
Correct answer: An allotrope of carbon.
A single sheet of carbon atoms one-atom-thick.
A sphere of carbon atoms.
Q6.
Why are graphene and graphite thermal and electrical conductors?
Correct answer: They contain delocalised electrons.
All the carbon outer shell electrons form covalent bonds.
Correct answer: Each carbon forms three covalent bonds.
The electrons remain in fixed positions.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each term to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:Nanometre,Unit used to measure very small things.

Unit used to measure very small things.

Correct Answer:Nanoparticle,A very small particle.

A very small particle.

Correct Answer:Nanoparticulate,A material made of nanoparticles.

A material made of nanoparticles.

Correct Answer:Surface area to volume ratio,The total surface area of an object divided by its volume.

The total surface area of an object divided by its volume.

Q2.
Place the following prefixes in order of size from the largest to the smallest.
1 - milli-
2 - micro-
3 - nano-
4 - pico-
Q3.
What do we call materials made up of particles?
Correct Answer: Particulate matter
Q4.
A cubic shaped nanoparticle has a side length of 5 nm. Which of the following statements about the nanoparticle are true?
Correct answer: The surface area to volume ratio of the cube is 6 : 5.
Correct answer: The surface area of the cube is 150 nm².
The volume of the cube is 150 nm².
The surface area to volume ratio of the cube is 125 : 150.
Q5.
True or false? Nanotubes are thermal and electrical conductors.
Correct answer: True
False
Q6.
Explain why nanoparticles are used as catalysts in chemical reactions.
Correct answer: They have a high surface area to volume ratio.
They have a high tensile strength.
They have high melting points.
The have delocalised electrons.