Somerset College (Mudgeeraba)

11 Chemistry
TASK 1

Student Name _________________________________________________

Teacher _________________________________________________

Issued: 18th February 2025

Draft: 10th March 2025

Final: 3rd April 2025

Marks Provisional
Criterion allocated marks
Forming 5

Finding 5

Analysing 5

Interpreting and Evaluating 5

Overall 20
Conditions

Technique Student Experiment

Unit Unit 1 Molecular interactions and reactions

Topic/s Topic 3 Chemical reactions – reactants, products and energy change

Duration Students can develop their responses in class time and their own
time

Mode / length Written (e.g. scientific report): up to 2000 words

Individual / group This is an individual task.

The following aspects of the task may be completed as a group
- identifying an experiment
- developing a research question
- conducting a risk assessment
- conducting the experiment
- collecting data.

Resources School science laboratory and library (online: internet and

school intranet, databases, journals)

Standard laboratory equipment is available. For any other

equipment needs, please discuss with your teacher and the
laboratory manager.
Context

You have completed the following practicals in class:

Enthalpy of neutralisation (calorimetry)
Enthalpy of neutralisation (Thermometric titration)
Enthalpy of combustion (calorimetry)

Task

Modify (i.e. refine, extend or redirect) an experiment in order to address your own related
hypothesis or question.

You must use a practical or simulation performed in class as the basis for your methodology and research
question.

To complete this task, you must:

 identify an experiment to modify*

 develop a research question to be investigated*
 research relevant background scientific information to inform the modification of the research question and
methodology
 conduct a risk assessment and account for risks in the methodology*
 conduct the experiment*
 collect sufficient and relevant qualitative and/or quantitative data to address the research question*
 process and present the data appropriately
 analyse the evidence to identify trends, patterns or relationships
 analyse the evidence to identify uncertainty and limitations
 interpret the evidence to draw conclusion/s to the research question
 evaluate the reliability and validity of the experimental process
 suggest possible improvements and extensions to the experiment
 communicate findings in an appropriate scientific genre, i.e. scientific report
*The steps indicated with an asterisk above will be completed in groups. All other steps must be competed
individually

Stimulus

NA
Checkpoints

Week 1: Identify an experiment to modify, propose modifications and develop a research question. Submit the completed r

Week 2: Perform experiment and process data.

Week 3: Analyse and evaluate evidence.

Week 4: Draft electronic copy submitted to Schoolbox.

Week 5: Final electronic copy submitted to Schoolbox

Week 7: Final electronic copy submitted to Schoolbox.

Authentication Strategies

 You will be provided class time for task completion.

 Your teacher will observe you completing work in class.
 Your teacher will collect and annotate a draft.
 You must acknowledge all sources.
 Your teacher will compare the responses of students who have worked together in groups.
 When working as part of a group, your individual response is assessed by your individual
performance in the assessment technique/task.
 You will each produce a unique response by collecting data as a group but producing individual
reports.
 You will provide documentation of your progress in your draft.
 Your draft and final response will be submitted to Turnitin through Schoolbox.
 Your teacher will ensure class cross-marking occurs.
 Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI): it is acceptable for students to use GAI for
brainstorming and idea generation only. The expectation is that students give full credit for al GAI
generated sources / material that they have used when writing and creating their own work (QCAA
Academic Integrity Policy). Students will need to refer to the Somerset College assessment Booklet
Reference Section using APA 7 and GAI. Please note that students may be asked to undertake
a Viva Voce to support student ownership of assessment. In addition, all student assessment will
be created, worked and stored on their College One Drive.

Scaffolding

The response must be presented using an appropriate scientific genre (ie. scientific report) and contain:
 a research question
 a rationale for the experiment
 reference to the initial experiment and identification and justification of modifications to the methodology
 raw and processed qualitative and/or quantitative data
 analysis of the evidence
 conclusions based on the interpretation of the evidence
 an evaluation of the methodology and suggestions for improvement and extension to the experiment
 a reference list using APA 7 referencing system

An example of how one of the practicals could be modified to develop a research question
Practical that will be modified:
Determination of solubility of a salt in water

Original Research question:

How does temperature affect the solubility of potassium nitrate?

Description Example

Identify the independent Temperature (0C)

variable to be investigated

Identify the dependent Solubility (g/110g)

variable

Identify the methodology to Measuring the temperature of recrystallization for different masses of
be used silver nitrate. Same procedure as experiment to be modified, with a
different salt.
Draft research question Does temperature affect the solubility of different salts differently?

Refine and focus the How does temperature (from 10-90oC) affect the solubility of potassium
research question nitrate in water?

NOTE: You cannot use this sample research question for your experiment
ISMG Instrument-specific marking guide

Criterion: Forming

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

 a considered rationale for the experiment
 justified modifications to the methodology
 a specific and relevant research question
4-5
 a methodology that enables the collection of sufficient and relevant data
 appropriate use of genre and referencing conventions

 a reasonable rationale for the experiment

 feasible modifications to the methodology
 a relevant research question
2-3
 a methodology that enables the collection of relevant data
 use of basic genre and referencing conventions

 a vague or irrelevant rationale for the experiment

 inappropriate modifications to the methodology
 an inappropriate research question
1
 a methodology that causes the collection of insufficient and irrelevant data
 inadequate use of genre and referencing conventions.

 The student response does not match any of the descriptors above.
0

Criterion: Finding

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

 considered management of risks/ethical issues/environmental issues
 collection of sufficient and relevant raw data 4-5
 fluent and concise use of scientific language and representations
 management of risks/ethical issues/environmental issues
 collection of relevant raw data 2-3
 competent use of scientific language and representations
 inadequate management of risks/ethical issues/environmental issues
 collection of insufficient and irrelevant raw data 1
 simplistic use of language and representations.
 The student response does not match any of the descriptors above.
0
Criterion: Analysing

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

 correct and relevant processing of data
 thorough identification of relevant trends/patterns/relationships
4-5
 thorough and appropriate identification of the uncertainty and limitations of
evidence
 basic processing of data
 identification of obvious trends/patterns/relationships 2-3
 basic identification of uncertainty and/or limitations of evidence
 incorrect or irrelevant processing of data
 identification of incorrect or irrelevant trends/patterns/relationships
1
 incorrect or insufficient identification of uncertainty and limitations of
evidence.
 does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0

Criterion: Interpreting and Evaluating

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

 justified conclusion/s linked to the research question
 justified discussion of the reliability and validity of the experimental process
4-5
 suggested improvements and extensions to the experiment that are logically
derived from the analysis of evidence
 reasonable conclusion/s relevant to the research question
 reasonable description of the reliability and/or validity of the experimental
process 2-3
 suggested improvements and/or extensions to the experiment that are
related to the analysis of evidence
 inappropriate or irrelevant conclusion/s 1
 cursory or simplistic statements about the reliability and validity of the
experimental process
 ineffective or irrelevant suggestions.
 does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0