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What we are doing?
All the laws and principles of Chemistry have been made by following a scientific method. In your A-level Chemistry course you will carry out research & experiments, make observations & take measurements. You will develop the skills to be a competent practical chemist.
You will be expected to analyse the results of your experiments & make inferences, sometimes by drawing a graph and often by performing calculations using your quantitative data. You will prepare some compounds using practical techniques such as titration, reflux, distillation & recrystallisation before checking the purity of your product by melting point analysis or chromatography and calculate the percentage yield. And you will carry out identifications of unknown chemicals from methods put together from your own research.
All of the techniques listed below will be assessed through practical activities. These ‘core’ practicals will allow you to demonstrate all of the practical skills specified in the curriculum. To achieve the Science Practical Endorsement, you will need to demonstrate competence in the 12 practical techniques listed
Practical techniques to be gained:
1. use appropriate apparatus to record a range of measurements (to include mass, time, volume of liquids and gases, temperature)
2. use water bath or electric heater or sand bath for heating
3. measure pH using pH charts, or pH meter, or pH probe on a data logger
4. use laboratory apparatus for a variety of experimental techniques, including: • titration, using burette and pipette • distillation and heating under reflux, including setting up glassware using retort stand and clamps • qualitative tests for ions and organic functional groups • filtration, including use of fluted filter paper, or filtration under reduced pressure
5. use volumetric flask, including accurate technique for making up a standard solution
6. use acid-base indicators in titrations of weak/strong acids with weak/strong alkalis
7. purify: • a solid product by recrystallization • a liquid product, including use of separating funnel
8. use melting point apparatus
9. use thin-layer or paper chromatography
10. set up electrochemical cells and measuring voltages
11. safely and carefully handle solids and liquids, including corrosive, irritant, flammable and toxic substances
12. measure rates of reaction by at least two different methods, for example: • an initial rate method such as a clock reaction • a continuous monitoring method
Why are we doing it?
In recent years, higher education institutions and employers have consistently flagged the need for students to develop a range of transferable skills to enable them to respond with confidence to the demands of undergraduate study and the world of work. By carrying out this programme of practical work you will develop the transferable skills that a student must have if he or she is to be regarded as a competent practical chemist. You will be required to prepare for laboratory work so that you are aware of how to work safely with specified chemicals and have selected / planned methods so that you are organised and able to manage your time so as to complete your work in the time allowed.
Over the two years of your A level course your teachers will assess your competence as a practical chemist by observing your working technique during 17 core practicals and grading your written research, methods, results, conclusions, inferences & citations.
On the written papers that you sit there will be questions on practical work. By completing this programme of core practicals you should be well prepared to answer these questions. There are likely to be questions on the three A level papers that test your knowledge and understanding of practical work.
Paper 1: 1h 45mins. This paper tests your knowledge of inorganic chemistry, energetics and equilibria.
Paper 2: 1h 45mins. This paper tests your knowledge of organic chemistry and kinetics.
Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 can assess your knowledge of chemical bonding and quantitative chemistry (calculations).
Papers 1 & 2 will contain questions which test your knowledge and understanding of the topics listed above but they can be presented in many different forms which are linked to your practical skills e.g. topic questions may well contain data or graphs which you might be asked to interpret and explain – in which case, you will need to use the skills you have developed throughout the whole course.
Paper 3: 2h 30mins. This paper tests content from all topics and questions may draw on material from two or more different topics. 50% of the marks in this paper will test your knowledge and understanding of experimental methods & your practical skills of the core practicals. This will include mathematical skills, as they are applied to practical work. 20% of the total marks available on all papers will be allocated to mathematical skills.
When will we do it?
Practical work is central to any study of chemistry. For this reason, the 17 core practical activities form a thread linking theoretical knowledge and understanding to practical scenarios. As such the core practical activities are embedded in the course linking to sections of theoretical knowledge to develop understanding of chemistry through investigation. There are eight core practicals in year 12 and nine in year 13. Your practical competency will be expected to develop through the course as will the complexity of the investigations and the criteria being assessed. Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) are specified by the Edexcel exam board and are mapped against your practicals by the department to maximise your ability to achieve three passes in each of the 11 criteria over the two year course.
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