Grade 9 Group Activity: Chemistry in Art and
Industry
Instructions: Divide the class into groups of 4–5 students. Read the provided material and discuss the
questions together. Each group should prepare a short presentation (3–5 minutes). Write your answers
on chart paper or in your notebooks.
Part A: Chemistry in Art
1 Identify two chemicals used in art mentioned in the text.
2 Explain how chemistry helps artists create colours and sculptures.
3 Copper compounds can be blue or green. Why do you think different compounds produce different
colours?
4 Some ancient pigments contained lead or mercury. Why could these substances be dangerous?
Part B: Alfred Nobel and Explosives
1
2
3
4
Who was Alfred Nobel?
What problem was he trying to solve while working with nitroglycerin?
Explain two useful purposes of dynamite in society.
What tragedy happened in 1864 and how did it influence Nobel’s work?
Part C: Science and Society Discussion
Discuss the statement: 'Explosives are dangerous and should be banned.' Prepare two arguments
supporting the statement and two arguments opposing it.
Part D: Chemistry Thinking Challenge
1 Why is aluminium extracted using electricity (electrolysis) instead of heating with carbon like iron?
2 What does the reactivity series of metals tell us about how metals are extracted?
Final Task
•
One important fact about chemistry in art.
•
•
One important fact about dynamite or explosives.
One opinion about whether explosives should be banned.