GCSE Chemistry revision

Sizes of particles and their properties

Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles (chemistry only)

AQA 4.2.4.1 Foundation & Higher

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Revision summary

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Nanoparticles are extremely tiny particles with a diameter of between 1 nm and 100 nm (smaller than 0.000000001 metres).
They cannot be seen even with a light microscope due to their incredibly small size.
The scientific field that researches nanoparticles and develops new materials from them is
called nanoscience.

1. What Are Nanoparticles? AQA

Nanoparticles are extremely tiny particles with a diameter of between 1 nm and 100 nm (smaller than 0.000000001 metres).
They cannot be seen even with a light microscope due to their incredibly small size.
The scientific field that researches nanoparticles and develops new materials from them is
called nanoscience.

A key feature of nanoparticles is their very large surface area to volume ratio compared to larger particles.
As particles get smaller, their volume decreases more rapidly than their surface area, causing the surface area to volume ratio to increase.
Many uses of nanoparticles depend on their large surface area rather than their volume, making them highly efficient materials.

2. Surface Area to Volume Ratio AQA

A key feature of nanoparticles is their very large surface area to volume ratio compared to larger particles.
As particles get smaller, their volume decreases more rapidly than their surface area, causing the surface area to volume ratio to increase.
Many uses of nanoparticles depend on their large surface area rather than their volume, making them highly efficient materials.