Chemistry

02: The Order of the Elements | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Professor Jim Al-Khalili looks at how the early scientists' bid to decode the order of the elements was driven ...

01: Discovering the Elements | Chemistry: A Volatile History

The story of how the elements were discovered and mapped begins with the alchemists who questioned that the worl...

03: The Nitrogen Cycle | Bellamy Rides Again

David Bellamy begins his trip around the nitrogen cycle in the Surrey hospital where he languished as a child suffering from acu...

Marie Curie | Icons

Marie Curie discovered new elements, pioneered radiotherapy and was one of the first to examine the sub-atomic world, before a scandal saw her adopted ho...

Introduction to Atoms | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C1.1a J250: C1.1a. This video provides an introduction to the concept that all materials are composed of atoms...

Atomic Structure - Building an Atom | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C1.2b, C1.2d, C1.2e J250: C1.2b, C1.2d, C1.2e. How can an atom be completely described by the in...

Arrangment of the Periodic Table | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C2.2a, C2.2b, C2.2c J250: C2.2a, C2.2b, C2.2c. This video explains the arrangement of the periodic ...

04: The Phosphorus Cycle | Bellamy Rides Again

David Bellamy dances his way through an aerobics class to show how phosphorus helps turn food into energy. Then he sits in the...

Properties of Group 1 Metals | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Spec references J248: C4.1a. Demonstration of reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium with water (Contains hi...

Mendelleev's Periodic Table | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Spec references J248: C2.2i J250: C2.2i. An account of how Mendeleev arranged the elements by atomic mass to crea...

Uses of Transition Metals | Short Circuit

An extra-curricular link is made to transition metals, with an explanation of how metal oxides are used to produce stained glass. T...

Bunsen Burner | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Robert Bunsen was a German chemist responsible for the invention of the Bunsen Burner.

Periodic Table Overview | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Spec references J248: C2.2i J250: C2.2i. A quick recap of how the periodic table is arranged including groups, period...

Hydrogen | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Cavendish accidentally discovered hydrogen, the first elemental gas, when experimenting with air.

Mercury | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Mercury is fourteen times heavier than water, and so dense even a steel bolt will float in it.

How are elements made? | Wonders of the Universe

Brian Cox explains what elements are and how they are formed, including the importance of carbon.

05: The Sulphur Cycle | Bellamy Rides Again

Caked from head to foot in volcanic mud, tramping the bogs of Scotland and wallowing in tropical mangrove swamps, David Bellamy l...

S04E05: North | Local Heroes

Adam Hart-Davis celebrates more pioneers of science, this week in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where he uncovers the steelmaking process that put S...

S03E09: Home Counties | Local Heroes

Hart-Davis begins by exploding balloons of hydrogen and oxygen in London, just as Henry Cavendish did in the late 18th century to prove ...

Atomic Structure - Revision | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C1.2b, C1.2d, C1.2e J250: C1.2b, C1.2d, C1.2e. A fast-paced overview of the basics of atomic struc...

Materials: How They Work

Materials scientist Mark Miodownik takes a look into the inner world of metals, ceramics and plastics and the microscopic structure that allows them...

01: Metal | How It Works

Mark Miodownik traces the history of our love affair with metal. He investigates metals at the atomic level and sees how metal crystals can be grown...

Secrets of the Super Elements

In the first BBC documentary to be filmed entirely on smartphones, Mark Miodownik reveals the weird materials that have built our high-tech world.

Episode 2 | The Secrets of Everything

Science daredevil Greg Foot finds out if you could survive in a falling lift if you jump as it hits the ground, what makes chillies hot...

S02E05: Size Matters | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

Dara and the team reveal why size matters in science and how discoveries large and small are changing the way we view the...

03: Ceramics | How It Works

Professor Mark Miodownik looks at how simple clay, sand and rock can be changed into pottery, glass and concrete to build cities and transform th...

Introduction to Covalent Bonding | GCSE Bitesize Revision

This video introduces covalent bonding, focusing on electron sharing, the use of dot and cross diagrams, and exampl...

S02E06: Invisible Worlds | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

Dara and the team shine a light on some of the mysterious and usually hidden worlds surrounding us, from our internal...

02: Plastic | How It Works

Mark Miodownik shows how plastics have brought luxury to the masses and reveals how the next generation will take its inspiration from nature and ...

Metals and Alloys | Science Fix

Mark Loughlin looks at the science of forensics while in the studio we make a motor and Alison Chappell takes apart a selection of drills.

Superconductors | Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity

Jim Al-Khalili looks at how, in 1986, IBM researchers discovered a breakthrough regarding superconductivity in cera...

Semiconductors and WWII | Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity

Jim Al-Khalili explains the importance of semiconductors, particularly with regard to fighting WWII.

Carbon bonds | Chemistry: A Volatile History

Scott Cooper was fascinated by how carbon atoms combined with other atoms, inventing the notion of ''bonds''.

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

From the moment we first drilled for oil, we opened a Pandora's box that changed the world forever. It transfor...

Episode 2 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

Professor Iain Stewart looks back at the 1950s, a time when the oil and gas fields of the Middle East became a ...

Episode 3 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

Professor Iain Stewart examines the situation in the 21st century, at which point the global consumption of oil...

Sustainable cities | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart visits Masdar in Abu Dhabi, a city that relies on renewable energy.

North Sea oil | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart investigates the discovery of North Sea oil.

How is oil formed? | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart explains the natural process in which over millions of years oil is formed.

The Secret Science of Sewage | Horizon

George McGavin and Zoe Laughlin investigate the revolutionary science finding vital renewable resources and undiscovered life in sewage.

Carbon capture and storage | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart investigates CCS, a process that is attempting to reduce carbon dioxide...

Carbon dioxide levels | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart outlines the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Fracking | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart explains the process of fracking.

Caspian oil | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World

Professor Iain Stewart investigates the impact of the Caspian oil.

Carbon footprint of a loaf of bread | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Dr Tara Shine discusses the carbon emissions from the process of baking a loaf of bread.

Carbon dioxide and climate change | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Dr Tara Shine demonstrates how increased burning of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution pro...

Climate refugees | Black Black Oil

Hundreds of millions of people are expected to migrate from their countries by 2050 due to rising sea levels.

The future of North Sea Oil | Black Black Oil

How the future of the North Sea Oil rigs are being sold off to foreign state-run companies and what that means for the future o...

Climate change in 50 years | Black Black Oil

Forecasts an extremely bleak future for the children of today where an unrecognisable landscape of the world is shaped by rising...

The world as a hydrocarbon-based infrastructure | Black Black Oil

Oil and gas companies maintain their products are necessary for the world to operate, however that view is ...

Carbon capture | Black Black Oil

Oil and gas companies hold stock in new technologies to capture carbon emissions but there is little evidence to suggest these work or indee...

Carbon Entanglement | Black Black Oil

A description given by Angel Gurria of the OECD denotes the dependence the UK (and the world) has on carbon.

Oil, finance and pensions | Black Black Oil

Investment in oil companies has been at the forefront of pensions for a long period in time but now are returning less equity tha...

Biological Catalysts | Science Topics

The video provides examples of biological catalysis, such as enzyme use in cheese production and human digestion, followed by an explan...

Rates of reaction | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C5.2c, C5.2d, C5.2e, C5.2f J250: C5.2c, C5.2d, C5.2e, C5.2f. Introduction to rate of chemical reactions and collis...

Reactivity of Group 0, 1 and 7 | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C4.1a. C4.1b J250: C4.1a. C4.1b. A detailed explanation of the reactivity of Group 0, Group 1, and Gr...

Episode 2 | The Secrets of Everything

Science daredevil Greg Foot finds out if you could survive in a falling lift if you jump as it hits the ground, what makes chillies hot...

Reversible Reactions - the Haber process | GCSE Bitesize Revision

This video provides an overview of ammonia production through the Haber process, briefly touching on the ne...

The Haber Process | Science Topics

Spec references J248: C6.1d. The video starts with an overview of the industrial production of nitrate fertiliser through the Haber proces...

Measuring the Rate of Reaction | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C5.2a, C5.2c, C5.2d, C5.2e, C5.2f J250: C5.2a, C5.2c, C5.2d, C5.2e, C5.2f. This video provides ...

Catalysis | Science Topics

Prog looking at catalysts and how they speed up chemical reactions, and how this knowledge is used in industry, farming and modern pollution devic...

Reversible Reactions | GCSE Bitesize Revision

This video provides examples of reversible chemical reactions and visually explains how dynamic equilibrium is achieved. It int...

Acids, Bases and Salts 2 | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C3.3d, C3.3e, C3.3f, C3.3h, C4.2a J250: C3.3d, C3.3e, C3.3f, C3.3h, C3.1g. This video introduces acid...

Electrolysis 2 | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C3.4a, C3.4b, C3.4c, C3.4d, C3.4e J250: C3.4a, C3.4b, C3.4c, C3.4d, C3.4e. Explanation of how ionic substances ...

Catalysis Demonstration | Science Topics

Catalysis is demonstrated through the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, including a test for oxygen gas. The clip explains how cat...

Electrolysis - Discovery of Potassium | Curriculum Bites

Spec references J248: C3.4b J250: C3.4b. Professor Jim Al-Khalili recreates the electrolysis experiment that lead to...

Electrolysis | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C3.4a, C3.4b, C3.4c, C3.4d, C3.4e J250: C3.4a, C3.4b, C3.4c, C3.4d, C3.4e. Explanation of how ionic substances ca...

Acids, Bases and Salts | GCSE Bitesize Revision

Spec references J248: C3.3d, C3.3e, C3.3f, C3.3h, C4.2a J250: C3.3d, C3.3e, C3.3f, C3.3h, C3.1g. This video introduces acids ...

The race is on | Bitesize Science

The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the temperature, concentration, particle size and any catalysts present.

What chemicals to use to achieve certain colours in fireworks | Rocket Science

In this classroom experiment students explore how different chemicals react when burned and le...