Chemistry: Gift or Danger?

Why it matters

The same science that makes your medicines and clean drinking water can also make weapons and pollution. Chemistry has two very different faces.

Predict first

A farmer sprays a little fertiliser and his crops grow better. What happens if he dumps a huge amount on the same field?

Even helpful chemicals like fertilisers can become dangerous in large amounts. Too much fertiliser harms the soil and washes into rivers, polluting the water.

• The crops will grow even bigger and healthier
• The extra fertiliser can damage the soil and pollute nearby water — correct
• Nothing changes at all
• The fertiliser turns into medicine

What you do

Drag each item into the face of chemistry it shows: a gift to us, or a danger to us.

Check yourself

Which statement about chemistry is TRUE?

Chemistry is a tool. The same knowledge can create medicines and clean water, or weapons and pollution. Whether it helps or harms depends on how people use it.

Pesticides protect crops from insects. Why can they still be dangerous?

Pesticides are helpful in the right amount, but used in excess they leave harmful residues on food and pollute soil and water. Useful chemicals must be used carefully.

Which of these is a GIFT of chemistry that helps keep us healthy?

Medicines are one of chemistry's greatest gifts, curing diseases and saving lives. Pollution and weapons are examples of chemistry being misused.

• Chemistry is only good and never causes harm
• Chemistry is only harmful and should be banned
• Chemistry has both useful and harmful uses depending on how we use it — correct
• Chemistry has nothing to do with daily life
• They are useful, so they can never harm anyone
• In excess they can poison the soil, water and even our food — correct
• They instantly turn into harmless water
• They only work at night
• Life-saving medicines — correct
• Air pollution
• Chemical weapons
• Addictive drugs