This book is designed as a teaching aid to help communicate the excitement and wonder of chemistry to students.

Chemistry experiments have a vital role to play in teaching and learning. They enhance learning either by their visual nature and so are memorable, or by their tying together of theory. They add to the fun of chemistry by their visual appeal and hands-on nature. - They allow students to apply their knowledge and understanding to what they experience, developing basic skills such as selecting and using equipment - They often illustrate a concept or process, so students gain first-hand experience before further discussion or analysis - They can be a starting point for investigations - They extend the scope of the curriculum and can be done in chemistry or science clubs The ideas for the experiments in this book have come from a variety of sources. Some may be original, but most have been collected from school chemistry departments and from the literature. Many of the ideas have come from more than one source. All the experiments have been compiled by Kevin Hutchings, The Royal Society of Chemistry Teacher Fellow 1997-98, and have been tested at the University of Sussex Institute of Education. They have subsequently been trialled in schools where they have worked in a classroom setting. The outcome is a concise set of guidelines for teachers and instructions and questions for students.