GCSE Combined Science – Chemistry

Required Practicals
What is it?
▪ Slides 2 – 5 include all Chemistry required practicals for the Trilogy Combined Science course.
▪ Slide 3 includes activity 1 for the rate of reaction required practical (Investigate how changes in concentration
affect the rates of reactions by a method involving a change in turbidity).
▪ Slide 5 includes activity 2 for the rate of reaction required practical (Investigate how changes in concentration
affect the rates of reactions by a method involving measuring the volume of a gas produced).
▪ The method summary and context provide a general overview of the steps followed, mostly omitting the exact
volumes/ masses used.
▪ The exam question examples apply mostly to Higher Tier pupils.

How is it used?
▪ It is suggested to print slides 2 and 3 as a double-sided A3 page. Accordingly for slides 4 and 5.
▪ It may be used for independent revision. The exam question examples may be used as retrieval starter tasks.

Resources used and modified by:

AQA GCSE Chemistry for Combined Sciences: Trilogy book (glossary)
AQA GCSE Chemistry: Required practical handbook (version 3.8)
Special thanks to Dr Richard Butler for the inspiration Miss Keloglou
 GCSE Combined Science – Chemistry Required Practicals Miss Keloglou

Outline Glossary Summary of method and context Exam question example Visual aid

1 Making salts Neutralisation: A chemical reaction of an 1. Heat the acid gently until it is almost boiling. Outline a safe plan the student could use to
acid with a base in which a salt and water 2. Use the spatula to add small amounts of the base. make pure, dry, crystals of the soluble salt
Preparation of a pure, dry sample of a are formed. If the base is a carbonate or 3. Stop adding the base when some of it remains copper sulfate from the insoluble metal oxide
soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or hydrogen carbonate, carbon dioxide is after stirring. and dilute acid.
carbonate, using a Bunsen burner to heat also produced. The acid and the base react forming a salt and water.
dilute acid and a water bath or electric Filtration: A technique used to separate The base is added in excess to ensure all the acid
heater to evaporate the solution. an insoluble substance in a solvent. reacts.
Evaporation: A technique used to 4. Filter the contents.
separate a soluble substance in a 5. Any excess of the base remains as a residue.
solvent. It involves the solvent’s physical 6. Pour the contents into an evaporating basin.
change from a liquid phase to a gas The filtrate is an aqueous solution of the salt.
phase. 7. Evaporate this gently using a water bath on the
Crystallisation: A technique which follows tripod and gauze (see diagram). Stop heating
evaporation, in which a solid in a once crystals start to form.
crystalline structure forms. 8. Transfer the remaining solution to a crystallising
dish. Leave this in a cool place for at least 24
hours.

2 Electrolysis Electrolysis: The breakdown of a 1. Pour the electrolyte into a beaker. Copper can be produced from copper(II) sulfate
substance containing ions by electricity. 2. Add the lid and insert carbon rods through the solution by two different methods.
Investigate what happens when aqueous Electrolyte: A liquid, containing free- holes. The rods must not touch each other. To produce copper by electrolysis a student has
solutions are electrolysed using inert moving ions, which is broken down by Each of the rods is called an electrode. The electrode inert electrodes, a d.c. power supply, a switch
electrodes. electricity in the process of electrolysis. connected to the positive end of the power supply is and electrical wires for the external circuit.
Anode: The positive electrode in called anode. The electrode connected to the negative a) Draw and label the apparatus set up to
electrolysis. end of the power supply is called cathode. produce copper from copper(II) sulfate
Cathode: The negative electrode in 3. Attach crocodile leads to the rods. Connect the solution by electrolysis.
electrolysis. rods to the dc (red and black) terminals of a low b) Suggest why the colour of the copper(II)
voltage power supply and switch on. sulfate solution fades during the
electrolysis.
c) Explain how copper is produced from
copper(II) sulfate solution by electrolysis.

3 Temperature changes Exothermic: A reaction that transfers 1. Pour the acid into a polystyrene cup. When ammonium chloride is dissolved in water,
energy to the surroundings. 2. Stand the cup inside the beaker. This will make it there is a temperature change.
Investigate the variables that affect Endothermic: A reaction that takes in more stable. The water used was at room temperature.
temperature changes in reacting solutions energy from the surroundings. A polystyrene cup is used because it is an insulator. A student added the ammonium chloride to
such as, e.g. acid plus metals, acid plus 3. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature water and stirred the mixture.
carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of of the acid and record it. a) The water was in a glass beaker. What
metals. 4. Add a certain volume of base into the cup. could the student have used instead of a
5. Fit the lid and gently stir the solution with the glass beaker to improve the accuracy?
thermometer through the hole. Give a reason why this would improve the
6. When the reading on the thermometer stops accuracy of his results.
changing, record the temperature. b) State two control variables the student
7. Keep on adding the same volume of base until should keep the same. Give a reason why
you reach the number of additions the task asks. changing each of these two control
variables would affect the temperature
change.
 GCSE Combined Science – Chemistry Required Practicals Miss Keloglou

Outline Glossary Summary of method and context Exam question example Visual aid

4 Rates of reaction (activity 1) Rate of reaction: how fast a reaction 1. Add sodium thiosulfate solution into a conical flask A student investigated the effect of temperature
occurs. and then add water to dilute the solution. on the rate of a reaction. The student follows
Investigate how changes in concentration Turbidity: The cloudiness of a fluid due to 2. Put the conical flask on the black cross. the methods described to the left.
affect the rates of reactions by a method the presence of suspended particles 3. Add hydrochloric acid into the flask. a) Explain why the solution goes cloudy.
involving measuring the volume of a gas invisible to the naked eye. 4. Swirl the flask gently and start the stopclock. b) Give two variables the student must
produced and a method involving a change 5. Stop the clock when you can no longer see the control to make the investigation a fair test.
in colour or turbidity. cross.
The solution becomes cloudy due to the presence of
solid sulfur.

5 Chromatography Chromatography: The process whereby 1. Use a ruler to draw a horizontal pencil line 2 cm Plan a chromatography experiment to
small amounts of dissolved substances from a short edge of the chromatography paper. investigate the colours in an ink.
Investigate how paper chromatography can are separated by running a solvent along 2. Use a glass capillary tube to put a small spot of
be used to separate and tell the difference a material such as absorbent paper. each of the known colourings (A-D) and then a
between coloured substances. Students Rf (retention factor): A measurement from small spot of the unknown mixture (U).
should calculate Rf values. chromatography. It is the distance a spot 3. Pour water into the beaker.
of a substance has been carried above Ensure that the pencil line is above the water surface.
the baseline divided by the distance of 4. Tape the edge of the chromatography paper to
the solvent front. the glass rod and rest the rod on the top edge of
the beaker.
5. Wait for the water solvent to travel at least three
quarters of the way up the paper.
6. Remove the paper. Draw another pencil line on
the dry part of the paper as close to the wet edge
as possible.
This is the distance travelled by the water solvent.

6 Water purification Distillation: Separation of a liquid from a Step 1 Water in Britain is taken from reservoirs to use
mixture by evaporation followed by 1. Pour a 1 cm depth of the sea water into a test as drinking water.
Analysis and purification of water samples condensation. tube. Add a few drops of UI. Using a pH colour What are the two main steps used to treat water
from different sources, including pH, Potable: Water that is fit to drink. chart, match the colour and record the pH. from reservoirs?
dissolved solids and distillation. Step 2 Give one reason for each step.
2. Pour drops of the sea water into a watch glass
and place it above a beaker acting as a water
bath.
3. Allow all the water to evaporate from the watch
glass.
Do not let the water bath boil dry.
Step 3
4. Add seawater in a conical flask and set up the
apparatus for distillation.
5. Place a mixture of ice and water in the beaker
surrounding the test tube.
6. Heat the sea water with the Bunsen burner until it
starts to boil. Then reduce the heat so that the
water boils gently.
7. Distilled water will collect in the cooled test tube.
 GCSE Combined Science – Chemistry Required Practicals Miss Keloglou

Outline Glossary Summary of method and context Exam question example Visual aid

1 Making salts Neutralisation: A chemical reaction of an 1. Heat the acid gently until it is almost boiling. Outline a safe plan the student could use to
acid with a base in which a salt and water 2. Use the spatula to add small amounts of the base. make pure, dry, crystals of the soluble salt
Preparation of a pure, dry sample of a are formed. If the base is a carbonate or 3. Stop adding the base when some of it remains copper sulfate from the insoluble metal oxide
soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or hydrogen carbonate, carbon dioxide is after stirring. and dilute acid.
carbonate, using a Bunsen burner to heat also produced. The acid and the base react forming a salt and water.
dilute acid and a water bath or electric Filtration: A technique used to separate The base is added in excess to ensure all the acid
heater to evaporate the solution. an insoluble substance in a solvent. reacts.
Evaporation: A technique used to 4. Filter the contents.
separate a soluble substance in a 5. Any excess of the base remains as a residue.
solvent. It involves the solvent’s physical 6. Pour the contents into an evaporating basin.
change from a liquid phase to a gas The filtrate is an aqueous solution of the salt.
phase. 7. Evaporate this gently using a water bath on the
Crystallisation: A technique which follows tripod and gauze (see diagram). Stop heating
evaporation, in which a solid in a once crystals start to form.
crystalline structure forms. 8. Transfer the remaining solution to a crystallising
dish. Leave this in a cool place for at least 24
hours.

2 Electrolysis Electrolysis: The breakdown of a 1. Pour the electrolyte into a beaker. Copper can be produced from copper(II) sulfate
substance containing ions by electricity. 2. Add the lid and insert carbon rods through the solution by two different methods.
Investigate what happens when aqueous Electrolyte: A liquid, containing free- holes. The rods must not touch each other. To produce copper by electrolysis a student has
solutions are electrolysed using inert moving ions, which is broken down by Each of the rods is called an electrode. The electrode inert electrodes, a d.c. power supply, a switch
electrodes. electricity in the process of electrolysis. connected to the positive end of the power supply is and electrical wires for the external circuit.
Anode: The positive electrode in called anode. The electrode connected to the negative a) Draw and label the apparatus set up to
electrolysis. end of the power supply is called cathode. produce copper from copper(II) sulfate
Cathode: The negative electrode in 3. Attach crocodile leads to the rods. Connect the solution by electrolysis.
electrolysis. rods to the dc (red and black) terminals of a low b) Suggest why the colour of the copper(II)
voltage power supply and switch on. sulfate solution fades during the
electrolysis.
c) Explain how copper is produced from
copper(II) sulfate solution by electrolysis.

3 Temperature changes Exothermic: A reaction that transfers 1. Pour the acid into a polystyrene cup. When ammonium chloride is dissolved in water,
energy to the surroundings. 2. Stand the cup inside the beaker. This will make it there is a temperature change.
Investigate the variables that affect Endothermic: A reaction that takes in more stable. The water used was at room temperature.
temperature changes in reacting solutions energy from the surroundings. A polystyrene cup is used because it is an insulator. A student added the ammonium chloride to
such as, e.g. acid plus metals, acid plus 3. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature water and stirred the mixture.
carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of of the acid and record it. a) The water was in a glass beaker. What
metals. 4. Add a certain volume of base into the cup. could the student have used instead of a
5. Fit the lid and gently stir the solution with the glass beaker to improve the accuracy?
thermometer through the hole. Give a reason why this would improve the
6. When the reading on the thermometer stops accuracy of his results.
changing, record the temperature. b) State two control variables the student
7. Keep on adding the same volume of base until should keep the same. Give a reason why
you reach the number of additions the task asks. changing each of these two control
variables would affect the temperature
change.
 GCSE Combined Science – Chemistry Required Practicals Miss Keloglou

Outline Glossary Summary of method and context Exam question example Visual aid

4 Rates of reaction (activity 2) Rate of reaction: how fast a reaction 1. Pour the acid into a conical flask. A student investigated the rate of the reaction
occurs. 2. Prepare a water bath using a trough. between magnesium and dilute hydrochloric
Investigate how changes in concentration Turbidity: The cloudiness of a fluid due to 3. Fill the other measuring cylinder with water and acid.
affect the rates of reactions by a method the presence of suspended particles invert it. Outline a plan to investigate how the rate of this
involving measuring the volume of a gas invisible to the naked eye. An inverted measuring cylinder or a syringe can be reaction changed when the concentration of the
produced and a method involving a change used. hydrochloric acid was changed.
in colour or turbidity. 4. Add a strip of magnesium ribbon to the flask, put • Describe how you would do the
the bung back into the flask as quickly as you can, investigation and the measurements you
and start the stopclock. would make.
5. Record the volume of hydrogen gas given off at • Describe how you would make it a fair test.
suitable intervals and continue until no more gas You do not need to write about safety
appears to be given off. precautions.

5 Chromatography Chromatography: The process whereby 1. Use a ruler to draw a horizontal pencil line 2 cm Plan a chromatography experiment to
small amounts of dissolved substances from a short edge of the chromatography paper. investigate the colours in an ink.
Investigate how paper chromatography can are separated by running a solvent along 2. Use a glass capillary tube to put a small spot of
be used to separate and tell the difference a material such as absorbent paper. each of the known colourings (A-D) and the
between coloured substances. Students Rf (retention factor): A measurement from unknown mixture (U).
should calculate Rf values. chromatography. It is the distance a spot 3. Pour water into the beaker.
of a substance has been carried above Ensure that the pencil line is above the water surface.
the baseline divided by the distance of 4. Tape the edge of the chromatography paper to
the solvent front. the glass rod and rest the rod on the top edge of
the beaker.
5. Wait for the water solvent to travel.
6. Remove the paper. Draw another pencil line on
the dry part of the paper as close to the wet edge
as possible.
This is the distance travelled by the water solvent.

6 Water purification Distillation: Separation of a liquid from a Step 1 Water in Britain is taken from reservoirs to use
mixture by evaporation followed by 1. Pour a 1 cm depth of the sea water into a test as drinking water.
Analysis and purification of water samples condensation. tube. Add a few drops of UI. Using a pH colour What are the two main steps used to treat water
from different sources, including pH, Potable: Water that is fit to drink. chart, match the colour and record the pH. from reservoirs?
dissolved solids and distillation. Step 2 Give one reason for each step.
2. Pour drops of the sea water into a watch glass
and place it above a beaker acting as a water
bath.
3. Allow all the water to evaporate from the watch
glass.
Do not let the water bath boil dry.
Step 3
4. Add seawater in a conical flask and set up the
apparatus for distillation.
5. Place a mixture of ice and water in the beaker
surrounding the test tube.
6. Heat the sea water with the Bunsen burner until it
starts to boil. Then reduce the heat so that the
water boils gently.
7. Distilled water will collect in the cooled test tube.