Select a course.
arrow_back
Chemical Analysis
infoWhy this? This unit develops pupils’ ability to identify substances and assess purity using instrumental and practical methods, showing how chemists gather evidence and check the composition of materials.
scheduleWhy now? It is taught after a broad range of substances and reactions have been studied, so pupils have meaningful contexts for testing, identifying and comparing chemicals.
neurologyYou need to know
- In chemistry, a pure substance is a single element or a single compound that is not mixed with any other substance.
- A pure substance has a sharp melting point and a sharp boiling point at fixed temperatures.
- An impure substance melts or boils over a range of temperatures because different particles disrupt the regular structure.
- A melting point apparatus heats a small sample and records the temperature range over which it melts.
- A formulation is a mixture that has been designed as a useful product with substances present in carefully measured amounts.
- Examples of formulations include fuels, medicines, fertilisers, foods, paints, alloys and cleaning products.
- A soluble substance dissolves in a solvent to form a solution, while an insoluble substance does not dissolve in that solvent.
- Solubility is the maximum mass of solute that can dissolve in a given volume of solvent at a particular temperature.
- Chromatography separates substances because they have different solubilities in the solvent and different attractions to the stationary phase.
- In paper chromatography, the paper is the stationary phase and the solvent is the mobile phase.
- In a chromatogram, a pure substance normally produces one spot, while an impure substance or mixture produces more than one spot.
- The `Rf` value of a substance is calculated using `Rf = {distance moved by the substance}/{distance moved by the solvent front}`.
- Hydrogen gives a squeaky pop when a lit splint is placed at the mouth of a test tube containing the gas.
- Oxygen relights a glowing splint when the splint is placed into the gas.
- Carbon dioxide turns limewater from colourless to milky or cloudy.
- Chlorine bleaches damp litmus paper, turning it white after first turning blue litmus red.
- In flame tests, lithium ions give a crimson flame, sodium ions give a yellow flame, potassium ions give a lilac flame, calcium ions give an orange-red flame, and copper ions give a green flame.
- With sodium hydroxide solution, copper(II) ions form a blue precipitate, iron(II) ions form a green precipitate, iron(III) ions form a brown precipitate, and aluminium ions form a white precipitate that dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide.
- Carbonate ions react with dilute acid to produce carbon dioxide, sulfate ions form a white precipitate with barium chloride solution after acidifying, and halide ions form precipitates with silver nitrate solution after acidifying.
- In halide tests with silver nitrate solution, chloride ions form a white precipitate, bromide ions form a cream precipitate, and iodide ions form a yellow precipitate.
rocket_launchYou must be able to
- Use melting point data to classify a substance as pure if it melts sharply at the expected temperature, or impure if it melts over a range of temperatures.
- Identify a formulation from information about a product by recognising that it is a purposeful mixture with measured ingredients.
- Carry out paper chromatography by drawing a pencil baseline, placing the sample on the line, keeping the solvent below the baseline, and marking the solvent front before it dries.
- Interpret a chromatogram by comparing the number, position and colour of spots to decide whether samples are pure, impure or contain the same substances.
- Calculate an `Rf` value by measuring from the baseline to the centre of the spot and from the baseline to the solvent front, then substituting into the `Rf` equation.
- Test for hydrogen using a lit splint and record a squeaky pop as the positive result.
- Test for oxygen using a glowing splint and record relighting as the positive result.
- Test for carbon dioxide by bubbling the gas through limewater and record a milky or cloudy colour change as the positive result.
- Test for chlorine using damp litmus paper and record bleaching to white as the positive result.
- Interpret unknown ion test results by matching flame colours, precipitate colours and gas test observations to the correct positive or negative ions.
Revision Quiz
trophy
Congratulations! You have completed the quiz.