Scientific Technologies (Level 6)

This Level 6 course has a significant amount of chemistry in it.

The course structure is that there are 4 mandatory units

Laboratory Safety (F3TD 11)

Mathematics for Science 2 (HP9W 45)

Fundamental Chemistry: An Introduction (HT6V 46) and

Experimental Procedures: Science (HN8D 46)

Fundamental Chemistry: An Introduction

Outcome 1 - Describe and use the basic chemical principles associated with atomic structure, chemical formulae, acids and bases, the periodic table, and organic chemistry.

While there is no practical activity specifically referenced here, it does say that "it is envisaged that learners will also participate in a range of other practical experiments which will both develop their laboratory skills and support the theory covered."

Outcome 2 - Perform practical experiments related to fundamental chemistry

Learners are required to undertake two assessed practical experiments, related to the theory in Outcome 1. 

Examples of suitable experiments are given in the Support notes but it stresses that these are not prescriptive. It suggests

Making standard solutions

Information on this can be found on the National 5 laboratory Science pages. While labelled N5, the processes are the same.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Titrations

Again, there are details about titrations on the National 5 laboratory Science pages. A titration is a titration at whichever level. Though at Level 6, a higher level of accuracy is required and other, more complex titrations may be carried out such as back titrations and redox titrations.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Testing for simple organic compounds

Unsaturation Testing - one of the old Int 2 PPAs

Identifying Carbonyls - one of the old Higher PPAs

Green oxidation of alcohols – microscale - A simple way to identify primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.

Reactions of organic acids and alcohols

This is quite a broad area but a few options are.

Neutralisation of Strong and Weak Acids shows some of the differences between strong and weak acids.

Green oxidation of alcohols – microscale - A simple way to identify primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. A larger-scale oxidation of ethanol to an aldehyde can be found here Oxidation of alcohols with dichromate.

Making an Ester (H) shows how to react alcohols and carboxylic acids to make esters.

Effect of concentration on reaction rate

Rate of Reaction (Temperature) (H)  - one of the old Higher PPAs.

Alternatively the semi-microscale version of the Thiosulphate-acid reaction can be used

Effect of temperature on reaction rate

Rate of Reaction (concentration) (H) - another one of the old Higher PPAs

Alternatively the semi-microscale version of the Thiosulphate-acid reaction can be used here too.

Simple distillation

There are various protocols on the SSERC site that include chemistry but a simple distillation activity can be found on the Laboratory Science pages. This is a Level 5 course but the method for distillation is the same.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Experimental Procedures: Science

Outcome 1 - Perform experimental procedures and record experimental results.

Learners need to do 6 experiments.

Outcome 2 - Process experimental results.

Learners need to provide reports for 2 experiments from 2 of Biology, Chemistry & Physics.

The sensible approach is to do Outcome 2 for 2 of the experiments in Outcome 1.

Some Suggested experiments from the Unit Support Notes are:

Preparation of a standard solution to a calculated molarity in the order of  (0.1 mol l^-1) or  (0.05 mol l^-1)

Details of how to make up solutions are on the National 5 laboratory Science page. The procedure is the same at this level though a greater level of accuracy may be required.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Titration (concordant to 0.1 cm³)

As above, there is a straightforward method for carrying out a titration given here. All that is different is the level of acccuracy.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Measurement of pH of a series of solutions using a pH meter

pH Measurement is a simple experiment using 2 'base' buffers to produce 10 solutions of a range of pH valoues that can then be tested with a pH meter and/or indicators.

Identification of an unknown substance using simple melting point measurement

Melting Point of Benzoic Acid gives two methods for determining the value. For this activity, one of the other substances mentioned can be used, unnamed, for the learners to identify from a listm of chemicals and their melting points.

Chromatography to identify an unknown substance

A simple paper chromatography activity can be found under the National 5 laboratory Science pages.

Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

But see also:

TLC of Soy Sauce

TLC of spearmint oil - part of the Terpenes workshop.

Refluxing and distillation

A well know activity using reflux is Hydrolysis of ethyl benzoate one of the old AH PPAs.

Another AH PPA involving distillation this time is Preparation of cyclohexene.

There are many others though. A simple example of a distillation can be found as a part of the National 5 Laboratory Science materiasl. Chemistry for N5 Laboratory Science

Experimental determination of the percentage yield of a product

A simple version of this is part of the extraction of paracetamol from tablets.

Solvent extraction

A simple version of this too is the extraction of paracetamol from tablets.

Recrystallisation

The extraction of paracetamol above also includes recrystallisation from cold water.

Quantitative analysis using a spectrometer

The SSERC activity to investigate Iron or Manganese in tea is a good example of this - although it is written to use a colorimeter, you can just as easily use a spectrometer set to the right wavelength.

Outcome 3 - Plan, organise and complete a laboratory based project.

Some suggested chemistry-related activities in the unit support notes are;

Chemistry of sunscreens

This can be investigated colorimetrically using the Sunscreens and Cyanotypes experiment.

Extraction and analysis of essential oils/active ingredients from sources (eg clove oil)

The extraction of Limonene from orange zest provides a good extraction method.

Food analysis: eg analysis of ‘healthy option’ vs standard crisps (eg fat, moisture, fibre, salt)

See Fat in Crisps. 

Fuel chemistry: comparison of fuels, eg biodiesel vs diesel

The SSERC inventigation into biodiesel fits the bill here

Kinetics: study of factors affecting rates of reaction

The semi-microscale Thiosulphate-acid reaction  this allows measurement of the effect of concentration of both reagents as well as temperature and can be extended to look at catalysts and calculation of activation energy.