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Student literacy sheet
Name ......................................................................
C3.12
Class ..................
Date ......................
Applications of nanoparticles
Specification references:


C2.4.1 Sizes of particles and their properties
C2.4.2 Uses of nanoparticles
Aims
This worksheet will help you improve your literacy skills. You will learn about
nanoparticles and how they can be used. You will also consider the use of
nanoparticles in the future. You will practise answering questions that involve
some of the key words and scientific terms.
Learning outcomes
After completing this worksheet, you should be able to:
 recall that nanoparticles are very small
 describe some uses of nanoparticles and explain why nanoparticles have
special properties
 consider whether scientists should continue to develop new uses for
nanoparticles.
Task
Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are very small particles that are between 1 and 100 nm in size.
They can also be described as being ultra-fine particles. Nanotechnology is the
use of nanoparticles to help improve people’s lives. Nanoparticles are interesting
because the properties of some substances at this tiny size are very different from
the properties of the same substance on a larger scale.
As the size of a particle is reduced, the proportion of the particles present at the
surface of the substance increases. As the surface area increases the particles
become more reactive, and surprising and interesting properties can be observed.
Silver nanoparticles are added to the fabric used to make socks. These
nanoparticles kill bacteria that could cause unpleasant odours. Nanoparticles of
iron oxide are used to remove poisonous chemicals including arsenic from water
wells. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide are used in some sun-screens and are also
used to protect textiles and wood from exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays.
In the future, nanoparticles could be developed to deliver medicines to tumours
inside the body or to break up clusters of bacteria that are causing chronic
bacterial infections.
© Oxford University Press 2016
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
1
Student literacy sheet
Name ......................................................................
C3.12
Class ..................
Date ......................
However, nanoparticles could potentially cause damage to people and to the
environment. This is in part due to their very small size, allowing the particles to
pass through cell membranes. This may cause health problems in humans and in
other animals. The exact health risks (especially over the long term) are unknown,
and scientists continue to study them.
Questions
1
In the text above, underline the possible uses of nanoparticles in red.
(4 marks)
2
Underline the possible problems of using nanoparticles in blue.
(3 marks)
3
Explain why nanoparticle-sized pieces of a material have different properties
to a larger piece of the same material.
(1 mark)
4
Suggest and explain how nanotechnology could be used to produce a better school
uniform.
(2 marks)
5
Do you think that scientists should continue to develop more uses for
nanoparticles? Explain your answer and include an example.
(3 marks)
© Oxford University Press 2016
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
2