eBook
Proteins & enzymes
This topic requires students to understand the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins. They can easily understand how the primary structure is obtained by hydrolysing the protein...
eBook
Nanotechnology
You might be forgiven for thinking that this sub-topic is more concerned with physics rather than chemistry. This is supported by the fact that Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, both from the University...
eBook
Polymers
The syllabus for this sub-topic covers the use of plasticizers to make PVC flexible but it does not actually cover what they are. Probably the most commonly used plasticizers are the phthalates which...
eBook
Liquid crystals
The Nature of Science section for this sub-topic uses Reinitzer’s discovery of liquid crystals as an example of serendipity. In 1888 Reinitzer synthesised a new compound - cholesteryl benzoate. cholesteryl...
eBook
Catalysts
It is fairly easy to see how a heterogeneous catalyst works. Two reacting gases, e.g. hydrogen and ethene, adsorb onto the surface of a transition metal such as nickel or palladium. This brings the two...
DP essentials
Your responsibilities
This page lists all that is expected from you during the research and writing of your Extended Essay. It includes your Research Reflection space, the need to have three mandatory reflection meetings with...
Blog
Intergalactic-mindedness Free
Maybe with the advent of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope the IB needs to be less parochial and broaden its horizons by encouraging intergalactic-mindedness rather than just international-mindedness?...
Blog
Some thoughts on the May 2022 IB Chemistry examinations Free
About a year ago I wrote a blog Thinking through multiple choice questions on the difficulty of writing good multiple choice questions. This is partly due to the fact that because the numbers of words...
Blog
Anti-Markovnikov addition Free
Imagine the International Baccalaureate started in the nineteenth century and that it is now 1872. You are an IB student looking for a research question for your internal assessment. You have just read...
Blog
Initial reflections on the new programme Free
The new IB Diploma chemistry programme to replace the 2016 programme was due to start in August/September 2021 with the first exams in 2023. It was initially postponed for one year then for a further...