Ecton Hill Field Studies Association

This Hill is Alive

Chemistry at Ecton

The Ecton Hill Field Studies Association (EHFSA) started running courses for AS and A2 Chemistry in 1991. The courses were developed to enhance the teaching of Chemistry and to illustrate the applications of Chemistry to the extraction of metals from ores and the identification of minerals, using standard chemical tests.

Chemistry topics covered in a standard one day activity are:

1. Testing for metal ions in solution {calcium, lead, copper(ll) and iron(lll)}.

2. Acids and their reactions with carbonates and bases.

3. Solubility of salts and the relationship with the Periodic Table (particularly Group 2).

4. Transition metal chemistry and complex ions, ligands and ligand replacement, structure of complex ions.

5. Chemical equations and relative formula mass, reacting mass calculations.

6. Interpretation of redox reactions.

The standard one day activity includes:

1. Tutor led tour of Salts Level, a mine adit (tunnel), with horizontal access when some of the features of mineralization and evidence of extraction methods are explained.

2. Tutor led tour of Ecton Hill, to see the shafts and surface features of former mining activity, and to collect mineral samples.

3. Student practical – chemical analysis of mineral samples found during the tour of Ecton Hill when visiting the mine spoil heaps. There is a choice of two work books, CW3A and CW3B. In both workbooks, students undertake the same chemical analysis of mineral samples, using the same practical procedures and techniques.

In CW3A the emphasis is upon the practical work and the interpretation of the chemical reactions.

In CW3B there is more emphasis upon the mineralogy and there is an investigative approach toward the chemical analysis. This is based upon the Periodic Table and some knowledge of the trends in the properties of the compounds of metals is desirable.

There are additional options, to be selected by visiting staff, if time permits.

Teachers will need to decide, in advance, which version they wish to use during the visit and to discuss this with the allocated Tutor.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss additional optional workshops with the Tutor

 

EHFSA