Edexcel A Level Chemistry Core Practicals
Use this landing page to move quickly between the 16 Edexcel A Level Chemistry core practical revision pages. Each card links to a focused practical walkthrough covering method, apparatus, safety, data handling, errors, uncertainties and exam-style interpretation.
Choose a Core Practical
Core practical questions often test more than a memorised method. Students need to understand why each apparatus choice is made, how measurements are processed, how uncertainty affects conclusions and how practical technique links to the underlying chemistry.
Key idea: A strong practical answer links the method to the chemistry, uses correct apparatus vocabulary and evaluates errors or limitations using the data in the question.
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.
CP9: Electrochemical Cells
Measure cell potentials and connect practical cell design with electrode systems and standard potentials.
CP10: Titration of EDTA
Use EDTA titration to determine metal ion concentration and practise complexometric titration analysis.
CP11: Rates of Reaction (Clock)
Investigate a clock reaction and use timing data to compare reaction rates under changed conditions.
CP12: Continuous Monitoring Rates
Follow a reaction continuously and interpret rate data from changing measurements over time.
CP13: Preparation of Aspirin
Prepare aspirin and revise recrystallisation, yield, purity and organic synthesis technique.
CP14: Thin Layer Chromatography
Use TLC to separate and identify components, including Rf values and chromatogram interpretation.
CP15: Preparing Organic Compound
Prepare, purify and characterise an organic compound using practical synthesis and separation techniques.
CP16: Testing Organic Unknowns
Use chemical tests and observations to identify organic functional groups in unknown compounds.
How to Use These Practical Pages
Start with the practicals linked to your current topic, then return to this page before Paper 3 revision. For each core practical, make sure you can state the purpose of the experiment, describe the method accurately, process the data and explain how errors, uncertainty and safety affect the quality of the result.
Exam focus: Practise writing concise method improvements, explaining anomalous results, choosing apparatus and linking observations to valid conclusions.
Copyright notice: This OLS revision content, including the explanations, layout, diagrams, tables and embedded learning structure, is authored for Online Learning System by Dr. Mohammed Al-Fatah. It may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed or adapted without written permission.