IB Chemistry: Mandated Labs for 2016 Curriculum

 

Background

 

Included in the “Applications and skills” sections of the guide are a series of practicals that students must cover either in a laboratory environment or as a simulation. The skills and general techniques associated with these common practicals may be assessed as part of the external assessment. The list of required practicals for chemistry is shown in the table below.  Questions can be asked on these mandatory areas in Section A of Paper 3 in the external examinations.

 

Required laboratory components

Topic Lab Practical Outline & Experiments
Topic 1.2.

The obtaining and use of experimental data for deriving empirical formulas from reactions involving mass changes.
Topic 1.3.

 Obtaining and the use of experimental values to calculate the molar mass of a gas  from the ideal gas equation.
Topic 1.3.  Use of the experimental method of titration to calculate the concentration of a solution by reference to a standard solution.
A traditional acid-base titration

Analysis of aspirin tablets

 Percentage of CaCO3 in egg shells

A green acid-base practical 

Instead of an acid-base titration this can also be covered by a redox titration e.g. Redox titration with KMnO4 

or Determination of vitamin C content  .
Topic 8.2.  Candidates should have experience of acid-base titrations with different indicators.
Topic 8.3.

 Students should be familiar with the use of a pH meter and universal indicator.

 Titrations with a pH meter

Topic 5.1.

A calorimetric experiment for an enthalpy of reaction should be covered and the results evaluated.

 This can be covered using Enthalpy changes

Topic 6.1.

Investigation of rates of reaction experimentally and evaluation of the results.

 This can be covered by using any of:

 Reaction rates

 Rate dependent factors

 Determining Ea for a reaction  (Higher Level only)

 Acid catalysed iodination of propanone  (Higher Level only)
Topic 9.2.

Performance of laboratory experiments involving a typical voltaic cell using two metal/metal-ion half-cells.

 This can be covered by using Voltaic cells

Topic 10.1.

Construction of 3D models (real or virtual) of organic molecules.

 This can be covered by using 3-D modelling of organic compounds

Topic 15.1.  Perform lab experiments which could include single replacement reactions in aqueous solutions. (either here or 19.1)
Enthalpy changes  or voltaic cells  

 

 

 To review:

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCSXF3g34YxWl4ciNAniN4giy6QlWIR8m