Practical questions
You will complete 21 required practical activities if you are studying GCSE combined science: Trilogy. You could be asked questions about the apparatus, methods, safety precautions, results, analysis and evaluation of these experiments.
There will be a number of different types of practical based questions. Some will be on the set required practicals, some will cover the working scientifically terms and some will be on other science practicals which you might have done in class. Use all the information given in the question particularly any diagrams to help you understand what the question is about.
There is one required practical activity in the Energy changes section:
- Investigate the variable that affect temperature changes in reacting solutions such as acid plus metals, acid plus carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of metals.
Learn about practicals with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.
Dr Alex Lathbridge answers questions about practicals.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
A student used paper chromatography to investigate the colours in different inks. The diagram shows the apparatus the student used.
The student made two mistakes in setting up the apparatus.
Identify the two mistakes and describe the problem each mistake would cause. [4 marks]
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
- Start line drawn in ink [1]
- So the line would run up the paper [1]
- Start line below solvent level [1]
- So the samples would dissolve into solvent [1]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The student then set up the apparatus without making any mistakes. The chromatogram obtained is shown below
Which of the inks is the most soluble in the solvent and why? [2 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
- Yellow [1]
- It travels the furthest up the paper [1]
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
A student used paper chromatography to investigate a food colouring, which is labelled X in the diagram below.
Write down two mistakes the student made in setting up the experiment and explain what problems one of the mistakes would cause. [2 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
The following are vaild points that could be included in your answer. It is important that you do not bullet point your answer but write your sentences in full.
- Water level above the start line and start line drawn in ink [1]
- Food colours would dissolve into water/ink would run on the paper [1]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
A student melted four substances. He collected the data in the table.
| Substance | Temperature at which the substance started to melt in °C | Temperature at which all substance had melted in °C |
| A | 43 | 53 |
| B | 17 | 17 |
| C | 78 | 78 |
| D | 34 | 39 |
| Substance | A |
|---|---|
| Temperature at which the substance started to melt in °C | 43 |
| Temperature at which all substance had melted in °C | 53 |
| Substance | B |
|---|---|
| Temperature at which the substance started to melt in °C | 17 |
| Temperature at which all substance had melted in °C | 17 |
| Substance | C |
|---|---|
| Temperature at which the substance started to melt in °C | 78 |
| Temperature at which all substance had melted in °C | 78 |
| Substance | D |
|---|---|
| Temperature at which the substance started to melt in °C | 34 |
| Temperature at which all substance had melted in °C | 39 |
a) Write down the letters of the two pure substances in the table. [1 mark]
b) Explain your answer. [1 mark]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
a) B and C [1]
b) B and C have sharper melting points [1]
