The chemical sciences and their applications are all around us. Many museums and galleries have scientific departments, and collectors of objects that may not even be "antique" in the strict definition of the word often need to have some scientific knowledge to stop their collection deteriorating. This resource shows how chemical techniques are used in conserving objects made from a wide variety of materials and seeks to introduce some of the ethical considerations of conservation to students. It is hoped that this will encourage teachers and students to consider the chemical sciences in their widest context and to reinforce the beneficial aspects of chemistry in unlikely contexts.

"It is a well produced teaching resource from the RSC...This is a facinating subject and is brought to life expertly; the students' notes are clear and well written and there are some good ecperiemental ideas and exercies too. It is well worth consideration by the teachers as part of a GCSE science sourse and a good deal of it would be suitable to augment AS ana A level chemistry too...a fine set of materials which this reviewer very much enjoyed and would highly recommend." - Physical Sciences Educational Reviews, david Harwood, University of Plymouth, April 2008