“Hi Sean, just want to say a BEEG thank you being an inspiring teacher. Your passion for Chemistry & dedication in teaching are a great motivation & inspiration to your students. You do not choose only the ‘A’ grade students but inspire them to be. Because of your help, Tim (Timothy) improved his Chemistry and was able to spend more time brushing up other subjects. Thanks!”
Mrs Ho, Parent of Timothy Ho, Gan Eng Seng School, C5 (Sec 3) to A2 (O Levels 2009)

• With all the hype and anxiety about the release of 2009 GCE ‘O’ Level results finally coming to a stop;

• With many of our 2009 students (of course including their anxious caring parents) settled enjoying the process of uncovering their new environment & making new friends in JC / IB institutions / Polytechnics;

• With the many wonderful wishes and special praises from a group of appreciative parents;

• With everyone being calm and mentally sound;

I think it is time for us to share our good news about our 2009 batch of Chemistry (Pure Chemistry & Combine Science) & Math (A / E) students.

Winners Education Group has helped another year of students to unleash their potential and produced excellent results with:

• 100% improvements!

• 98% of them have also scored ‘A’s & ‘B’s!

• 97% making improvement of 3 grades or more in Chemistry & A/E-Math!

Updates: Glad to know that (more…)

Last week, we have discussed on the Common Properties of a Group (in general).

Today, let’s take a closer look at the properties of elements from 3 very important groups that examiners like to test you:

Properties of Impt Groups in Periodic Table:

Group I (Alkali Metals)

• Soft & Silvery Metals
• Low Densities & Low MPs
• Has 1 valence electron
• Forms ions with 1+ charge by giving away 1 valence electron
• Reacts vigorously with cold water to form metal hydroxide alkaline solution & hydrogen gas
• Reacts vigorously with chlorine gas to form ionic metal chlorides

Group VII (Halogens) (more…)

TEACHER = EDUCATOR ???

Since the inception of this F-R-E-E Chemistry website few days ago, i have received numerous emails and blog comments by educators from different regions – about the roles of  “Teachers” and “Educators”.

Many in Singapore associates Teachers to only NIE-Trained Teachers which applies to Primary, Secondary & Junior College Teachers. Personally, i thought more credit should be given to Kindergarden & Child-Care Teachers and Assistants, Tutors, Coaches, Instructors, Trainers, Polytechnics & Universities’ Lecturers, even parents & siblings. As such, Educators seemed to be a more correct term to used.

I did a quick check with my decade-old dictionary to find the terms  stated:

Teacher - person who gives systematic information to (person) or about (subject or skill); enable (person) to do something by instruction

Educator – person who trains or instructs  mentally and morally, besides giving information

These days, children (especially this group of teenagers under “Y” Generation) are getting more matured earlier and have a mindset of their own. Giving of information to students and instructing them is no more effective. And thus the role of Educators / Teachers have to emcompass other elements in order to made their teachings more effective, such as:

• Passion of the subject
• Knowledge of subject (besides the textbook theories)
• Motivation / Inspiration
• Fun & Humorous
• Classroom management

What do you think?

If you are an educator: Teacher, (more…)

In the previous blogpost, we have discussed about the General Features of the Periodic Table.

Besides that, students taking GCE ‘O’ Levels / IGCSE / IB / IP examinations would also need to master the Common Properties of a Group.

Common Properties of a Group

Elements in the same group have similar properties:

• Same number of valence electrons
• Usually form ions with the same charge
• Form compounds with similar formulae
• Similar physical properties
• Similar chemical properties

In addition to the above, the following are observed as we go down a particular group:

• Proton number increases
• Number of electron shellls increases
• Relative atomic mass increases

Now, go ahead and try out some exam-based question and leave your suggested answers below.

Quick Check 1:

Given that Strontium is (more…)

More Chemistry Tips & Exam Strategies

(Photo by ma-kasu)

In Chemistry, Periodic Table has long been regarded by students, educators and chemists as the “Bible” of Chemistry.

We need to have a good grasp of the General Features & the important Patterns (Group Trends) in order to appreciate many other topics and to score in exams.

General Features of Periodic Table:

1. Elements are arranged in the order of increasing proton / atomic number
2. A horizontal row of elements is called a Period
3. A vertical column of elements is called a Group
4. Elements are further divided into (more…)

(Photo Courtesy Loupe Clean)

In the previous post, i have discussed on the overview checklist that students need to know about this topic of Particulate Nature of Matter (commonly known as Kinetic Particle Theory).

Besides the “connection between relative molecular mass of a gas & its rate of diffusion” which is listed as very important, students should also know how to describe & differentiate the 3 States of Matter: Solids, Liquids & Gases, with respect to:

1. Arrangement of the particles
2. Forces between the particles
3. Movement of the particles
4. Energy of the particles
5. Density

Let’s take a look at it now.

With the above comparisons, we shall now discuss which States of Matter can be compressed upon the application of (more…)

Last Sunday, i met the new group of students for the 2010 Sun Sec 3 Chemistry Class under Ultimate Leap Programme.

Since it was the 1st session, i decided to start with a very basic topic known as Particulate Nature of Matter, otherwise known as Kinetic Particle Theory to many. This should be something that most students would have learned and mastered in Sec 1/2 in their secondary schools.

To my surprise, many of the students were not conversant in this topic when i gave them the Pre-Test!

Today, i am going to share with you the overview checklist on what you need to know about this topic as well as discuss on one very important concept that are frequently tested in GCE ‘O’ Levels / IGCSE / IB / IP Chemistry Exams.

Overview Checklist on what you need to know:

1. Recognise & draw the particulate models for Solids, Liquids & Gases
2. Describe the arrangement & movement of the particles in the 3 States of Matter
3. Explain why Gases can be compressed, but not Solids & Liquids
4. Describe what happens to the particles during melting, boiling, condensation and freezing
5. Interpret Temp / Time Graphs for Changes of States
6. State the connection between relative molecular mass of a gas & its rate of diffusion
7. State some examples of diffusion of gases in everyday life

Of the above, the favourite question that examiners like to ask is (more…)