Free preview · Senior 4 Chemistry · Laboratory activities
Senior 4 laboratory activities
17 units · 34 activities. In every unit, activity 1 is improvised (simple local materials) and activity 2 is conventional (school laboratory equipment): two different experiments. Below are 5 free pages; then get the whole level in one PDF.
- Title and aim of every experiment
- Required apparatus and safety notes
- A clear, labelled drawing of the set-up
- Step-by-step procedure and a results table to fill in
- Observation and conclusion
- Three questions per activity, with sample results and answers at the end of the unit
See all 34 activities of this level and what each one is about
- Unit 1: Structure of an Atom and Mass Spectrum
- 1.1 Improvised · A rolling-ball model of the mass spectrometer. To model how a mass spectrometer separates particles of different masses by deflecting them.
- 1.2 Conventional · Relative atomic mass of magnesium from the volume of hydrogen. To find the relative atomic mass of magnesium from the volume of hydrogen produced when it reacts with excess acid.
- Unit 2: Electron Configurations of Atoms and Ions
- 2.1 Improvised · Coloured flames from kitchen materials. To observe the characteristic flame colours of some metals and relate them to electron energy levels.
- 2.2 Conventional · Ions carry charges: migration of coloured ions. To show that ions are charged particles by observing coloured ions move towards the electrodes.
- Unit 3: Formation of Ionic and Metallic Bonds
- 3.1 Improvised · A bubble-raft model of a metal. To model the close-packed arrangement of atoms in a metal and the defects that make metals malleable.
- 3.2 Conventional · Ionic crystals under the microscope. To observe the regular shapes of ionic crystals and relate them to the ionic lattice.
- Unit 4: Covalent Bond and Molecular Structures
- 4.1 Improvised · Balloon models of molecular shapes. To model the shapes of molecules using balloons to represent electron pairs (VSEPR theory).
- 4.2 Conventional · Polar and non-polar liquids in an electric field. To show that polar molecules are attracted by a charged rod while non-polar molecules are not.
- Unit 5: Trends in Physical Properties of Elements in the Periodic Table
- 5.1 Improvised · Graphing periodicity with string and pins. To plot melting points (or first ionisation energies) against atomic number and see the repeating pattern (periodicity).
- 5.2 Conventional · Conductivity across period 3. To test the electrical conductivity of period 3 elements and relate it to their structures.
- Unit 6: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 1 Elements
- 6.1 Improvised · Potash from banana peels. To extract potassium compounds (potash) from plant ash and show that they form an alkaline solution.
- 6.2 Conventional · Reactivity of lithium, sodium and potassium with water (teacher demonstration). To compare the reactions of group 1 metals with water and find the trend in reactivity.
- Unit 7: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 2 Elements
- 7.1 Improvised · Eggshell to quicklime. To decompose calcium carbonate (eggshell) by strong heating and show that the product is a basic oxide.
- 7.2 Conventional · Solubility trends of group 2 hydroxides and sulfates. To find how the solubilities of group 2 hydroxides and sulfates change down the group.
- Unit 8: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 13 Elements
- 8.1 Improvised · Waking up aluminium foil. To show that aluminium is reactive but protected by an oxide layer, and that chloride ions can break this layer.
- 8.2 Conventional · Aluminium hydroxide is amphoteric. To show that aluminium hydroxide reacts with both acids and alkalis.
- Unit 9: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 14 Elements
- 9.1 Improvised · Tin protects iron: the tin-can test. To investigate how a coating of tin (a group 14 metal) protects iron from rusting, and what happens when it is scratched.
- 9.2 Conventional · Carbon as a reducing agent. To reduce copper(II) oxide to copper by heating it with carbon and identify the gas produced.
- Unit 10: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 15 Elements
- 10.1 Improvised · Too much fertiliser: algae in pond water. To show how nitrate and phosphate fertilisers cause algae to grow in water (eutrophication).
- 10.2 Conventional · Testing for phosphate in fertilisers and detergents. To detect phosphate ions in samples using ammonium molybdate.
- Unit 11: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 16 Elements
- 11.1 Improvised · How long can a candle burn in a jar?. To show that burning uses oxygen from the air and that a larger volume of air supports burning for longer.
- 11.2 Conventional · Allotropes of sulfur (teacher demonstration). To prepare plastic sulfur and observe how heating changes the structure of sulfur.
- Unit 12: Trends in Chemical Properties of Group 17 Elements
- 12.1 Improvised · Iodine from the pharmacy: an oxidising agent. To show that iodine is an oxidising agent that is reduced by vitamin C and gives a blue-black colour with starch.
- 12.2 Conventional · Displacement reactions of the halogens. To compare the reactivity of chlorine, bromine and iodine using displacement reactions.
- Unit 13: Properties and Uses of Group 18 Elements
- 13.1 Improvised · How strongly does a helium balloon lift?. To compare the density of helium with that of air by measuring the lifting force of a helium balloon.
- 13.2 Conventional · Colours of noble gases in discharge tubes (teacher demonstration). To observe the light emitted by noble gases in discharge tubes and view their line spectra.
- Unit 14: Trends in Chemical Properties of Period 3 Elements
- 14.1 Improvised · Salts of sodium, magnesium and aluminium in water. To compare the pH of solutions of salts of period 3 metals and relate it to the charge density of the metal ion.
- 14.2 Conventional · Reactions of sodium, magnesium and aluminium with water and acid. To compare the reactivity of period 3 metals with water and dilute acid.
- Unit 15: Fertilisers
- 15.1 Improvised · Does fertiliser help seedlings grow?. To compare the growth of bean or maize seedlings with no fertiliser, with NPK fertiliser and with compost.
- 15.2 Conventional · Preparing ammonium sulfate fertiliser. To prepare crystals of ammonium sulfate by neutralising ammonia solution with sulfuric acid.
- Unit 16: Reduction and Oxidation Reactions
- 16.1 Improvised · What makes iron rust?. To find the conditions needed for iron to rust (oxidise).
- 16.2 Conventional · Redox titration: iron(II) with potassium manganate(VII). To find the concentration of iron(II) ions in a solution by titration with potassium manganate(VII).
- Unit 17: Energy Changes and Energy Profile Diagrams for Chemical Reactions
- 17.1 Improvised · Hot and cold packs. To classify everyday processes as exothermic or endothermic by measuring temperature changes.
- 17.2 Conventional · Enthalpy change of neutralisation. To measure the enthalpy change when hydrochloric acid is neutralised by sodium hydroxide.
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