Edexcel International A Level Chemistry Core Practicals
Use this landing page to move quickly between the Edexcel International A Level Chemistry core practical revision pages. The practicals are grouped into Unit 3 for IAS practical skills and Unit 6 for IA2 practical skills, so students can revise the correct experimental work for each part of the course.
Choose an Edexcel International Core Practical
Core practical questions test more than a memorised method. Students need to understand apparatus choices, measurement quality, data processing, uncertainty, risk management and how each practical links to the underlying chemistry.
Key idea: The strongest practical answers connect observations and data to chemical reasoning, while using precise apparatus vocabulary and clear evaluation of errors or limitations.
Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I
IAS practical skills linked mainly to Units 1 and 2.
CP1: Molar Volume of a Gas
Measure the molar volume of a gas and connect volume measurements with moles, gas volume and experimental uncertainty.
CP2: Enthalpy Change via Hess’s Law
Use Hess’s Law to determine an enthalpy change indirectly from experimental temperature-change data.
CP3: Concentration of HCl by Titration
Find the concentration of hydrochloric acid using titration, concordant results and mole ratio calculations.
CP4: Preparation of a Standard Solution
Prepare a standard solution accurately using a balance, volumetric flask and careful transfer technique.
CP5: Hydrolysis of Halogenoalkanes
Compare rates of hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes and link observations to carbon-halogen bond strength.
CP6: Chlorination of 2-methylpropan-2-ol
Prepare a chloroalkane from 2-methylpropan-2-ol and revise separation, purification and safe organic technique.
CP7: Oxidation of Propan-1-ol
Oxidise propan-1-ol and revise distillation, reflux, aldehyde formation and carboxylic acid formation.
CP8: Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Unknowns
Use qualitative tests to identify inorganic ions and organic functional groups from observations.
Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II
IA2 practical skills linked mainly to Units 4 and 5.
CP9A/9B: Iodine-Propanone and Clock Reaction Kinetics
Investigate reaction kinetics using iodine-propanone and clock reaction methods with timing and rate data.
CP10: Activation Energy of a Reaction
Use rate data at different temperatures to determine activation energy and interpret Arrhenius-style evidence.
CP11: Ka Value for a Weak Acid
Use pH and concentration data to determine the acid dissociation constant for a weak acid.
CP12: Electrochemical Cells
Measure cell potentials and connect practical cell design with electrode systems and standard potentials.
CP13A/13B: Redox Titrations
Carry out redox titration procedures and use mole ratios to determine concentrations from titre data.
CP14: Preparation of a Transition Metal Complex
Prepare a transition metal complex and revise yield, purification and observations linked to complex formation.
CP15: Analysis of Inorganic and Organic Unknowns
Use systematic qualitative analysis to identify inorganic and organic unknowns in advanced practical contexts.
CP16: Preparation of Aspirin
Prepare aspirin and revise recrystallisation, yield, purity and organic synthesis technique.
How to Use These Practical Pages
Start with the practicals from the unit you are currently studying, then return to this page before practical skills revision. For each core practical, make sure you can state the purpose, describe the method accurately, process the data and explain how errors, uncertainty and safety affect the quality of the result.
Exam focus: Practise explaining method improvements, identifying sources of error, choosing suitable 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.