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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

  • A pure substance in chemistry is a single element or a single compound that is not mixed with any other substance.
  • A pure substance has a sharp melting point or boiling point, but an impure substance melts or boils over a range of temperatures.
  • Impurities usually lower the melting point of a substance and make melting occur over a wider temperature range.
  • A formulation is a useful mixture made by following a precise recipe so that each component is present in a carefully measured amount.
  • Examples of formulations include fuels, cleaning agents, paints, medicines, alloys, fertilisers, foods and drinks.
  • A soluble substance dissolves in a solvent, an insoluble substance does not dissolve in a solvent, and solubility is the amount of solute that dissolves in a given amount of solvent.
  • Chromatography separates substances because different substances have different solubilities in the solvent and different attractions to the stationary phase.
  • In paper chromatography, the mobile phase is the solvent and the stationary phase is the paper.
  • In chromatography, a pure substance normally produces one spot, while an impure substance or mixture produces more than one spot.
  • The `R_f` value is calculated using `R_f = \frac{\text{distance moved by substance}}{\text{distance moved by 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 in a test tube containing the gas.
  • Carbon dioxide turns limewater milky because calcium carbonate forms.
  • Chlorine bleaches damp litmus paper white, usually after turning it red first.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Use melting point apparatus to test a small dry sample, recording the temperature range over which it melts and judging purity from how sharp or broad the melting range is.
  • Interpret melting point, boiling point or chromatography data to decide whether a substance is pure or impure, using one spot or a sharp fixed point as evidence of purity.
  • Set up paper chromatography by drawing a pencil baseline, placing the sample on the line, keeping the baseline above the solvent, and allowing the solvent front to rise before marking it in pencil.
  • Calculate an `R_f` value by measuring from the baseline to the centre of the spot and from the baseline to the solvent front, then dividing the two distances.
  • Test for hydrogen by placing a lit splint at the mouth of the test tube and identifying a squeaky pop as a positive result.
  • Test for oxygen by placing a glowing splint into the gas and identifying relighting as a positive result.
  • Test for carbon dioxide by bubbling the gas through limewater and identifying a milky white colour as a positive result.
  • Test for chlorine using damp litmus paper and identifying bleaching to white as a positive result.


Revision Quiz

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