Practical questions
You will complete eight required core practical activities if you are studying GCSE Chemistry, and 18 if you are studying GCSE Combined Science (five of these are in Chemistry).
You could be asked questions about the apparatus, methods, safety precautions, results, analysis and evaluation of these experiments.
There is one core practical activity in the Separate Chemistry 1 section:
Carry out an accurate acid-alkali titration, using burette, pipette and a suitable indicator.
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
The rusting of an iron nail was investigated by setting up three test tubes, as in the diagram.
State and justify the result you would see in each tube after one week.
[3 marks]
Edexcel question courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
- A will rust, as there is air/oxygen and water present [1 mark]
- B will not rust, as there is no air/oxygen present [1 mark]
- C will not rust, as no water is present [1 mark]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
A titration is to be carried out to find the concentration of a solution of sodium hydroxide.
The sodium hydroxide solution is titrated with dilute sulfuric acid.
The available apparatus includes a burette, a pipette, a funnel, a conical flask and an indicator.
State one safety precaution that must be taken when using sodium hydroxide solution and dilute sulfuric acid.
[1 mark]
Edexcel question courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
Any one precaution from:
- wear gloves [1 mark]
- eye protection/safety specs/goggles [1 mark]
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
In a titration, dilute acid is added from a burette to an alkali in a conical flask. The alkali contains a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator.
State the colour change observed at the end-point.
[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.
Pink to colourless [1 mark] - both colours needed for the mark.
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Sodium carbonate was made in a laboratory experiment.
The theoretical yield of the experiment was 15.0 g. The actual yield of the experiment was 10.4 g.
Suggest two reasons why the actual yield was less than the theoretical yield.
[2 marks]
Edexcel question courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
Two suggestions from:
- reaction incomplete [1 mark]
- impure reactants [1 mark]
- other unwanted/side reaction(s) occur [1 mark]
- product lost during experiment/practical [1 mark]
