Core Practicals

CP1: Molar Volume of a Gas

Measure the molar volume of a gas and connect volume measurements with moles, molar volume and experimental uncertainty.

CP2: Prepare a Standard Solution

Prepare a standard solution accurately using a balance, volumetric flask and careful transfer technique.

CP3: Concentration of HCl by Titration

Find the concentration of hydrochloric acid using titration, concordant results and mole ratio calculations.

CP4: Hydrolysis of Halogenoalkanes

Compare rates of hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes and link observations to carbon-halogen bond strength.

CP5: Oxidation of Ethanol

Oxidise ethanol and revise the apparatus, conditions and organic products linked to aldehydes and carboxylic acids.

CP6: Chlorination of 2-methylpropan-2-ol

Prepare a chloroalkane from 2-methylpropan-2-ol and revise separation, purification and safe organic technique.

CP7: Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Unknowns

Use qualitative tests to identify inorganic ions and organic functional groups from observations.

CP8: Enthalpy Change via Hess’s Law

Use Hess’s Law to determine an enthalpy change indirectly from experimental temperature-change data.

CP 9 – Finding the Ka Value for a Weak Acid

Finding the Ka of a weak acid: pH meter calibration, Ka from pH, half-neutralisation and pH = pKa, the weak acid pH curve, indicators, buffer action and errors.

CP 10 – Investigating Electrochemical Cells

Measuring cell potentials: half-cells, salt bridge, high-resistance voltmeter, E⦵cell = +1.10 V for zinc–copper, concentration effects, the standard hydrogen electrode, feasibility, errors and uncertainty.

CP 11 – Redox Titration with Iron(II) and Manganate(VII)

Redox titrations: iron(II) with potassium manganate(VII), iodine with sodium thiosulfate, mole ratios from half-equations, worked calculations, uncertainty and errors.

CP 12 – Preparation of a Transition Metal Complex

Preparing a transition metal complex: tetraamminediaquacopper(II) sulfate from copper(II) sulfate and ammonia, ligand exchange, colours, ethanol crystallisation, filtration, washing, drying and percentage yield.

CP 13a and 13b – Iodine–Propanone Kinetics and a Clock Reaction

Following reaction rates: the iodination of propanone by titration (zero order in iodine), the iodine clock reaction, initial rates from 1/t, rate equations, mechanism, errors and uncertainty.

CP 14 – Finding the Activation Energy of a Reaction

Finding the activation energy of a reaction: a clock reaction at five temperatures, the Arrhenius plot of ln(1/t) against 1/T, gradient = (−Eₐ) / (R), the worked calculation, errors and improvements.

CP 15 – Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Unknowns

Identifying transition metal ions with sodium hydroxide and ammonia, the second-year organic functional group tests, and worked inorganic and organic unknowns with their equations.

CP 16 – Preparation of Aspirin

The preparation of aspirin: 2-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanoic anhydride, recrystallisation, filtration under reduced pressure, percentage yield, the melting temperature as tests of purity, and the common errors.