PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

➢ P5 is the written examination of practical skills. It focuses on the higher order experimental skills of planning, analysis and
evaluation.

Part 1 : Planning

YOU should be able to

1 • Define the ➢ Identify the
problem o independent variable (variable that is changed in an experiment)
o dependent variable in the experiment or investigation (variable that is observed in an investigation &
depends on the independent variable)
o controlled variables (variables which are kept constant during the investigation)
o Examples of variables are mass, volume, time, temperature, concentration, pressure
➢ Express the aim in terms of a prediction or hypothesis & express this in words or in the form of a predicted
graph
o Example : The rate of a reaction between calcium carbonate & hydrochloric acid depends on the
concentration of the acid.
➢ Identify a safe & efficient procedure that when followed would lead to a reliable result
➢ Identify the steps necessary to carry out the procedure
➢ Identify apparatus that is suitable for carrying out each step of the procedure
➢ Assess the risks of their proposed experiment
➢ Show an understanding of how and why the procedure suggested will be effective

You will be provided with information about the aims of the investigation or experiment, and some background
information relating to it. You should be able to make use of this information to identify the key variables in the
investigation.

You should be able to carry out a simple risk assessment of your plan, identifying the areas where accident or
injury is most likely and areas where it would be most serious. You should be able to use this to propose
appropriate safety precautions specifically related to the risks that they have identified, eg the experiment gives
off NO2 fumes should be carried out in a fume cupboard.

You may be asked to express your prediction in a number of ways.

2 • Describe the ➢ Describe the method to be used when carrying out the experiment
methods Describe the arrangement of apparatus and the steps in the procedure to be followed (diagram or step by
step procedure in sequence). Need to give the capacity of apparatus used.
Must know basic ➢ Suggest appropriate volumes & concentrations of reagents (need to show a step by step calculations)
techniques such as ➢ Describe precautions that should be taken to keep risks to a minimum
titration, standard ➢ Describe how to vary the independent variable & how the dependent variable is to be measured
solution ➢ Describe how each of the other variables might be controlled
preparation, ➢ Explain how any control experiments might be used to verify/prove that it is the independent variable that is
methods to affecting the dependent variable and not some other factor
measure volume & ➢ Describe the outcomes of steps in the procedure where these are relevant to the overall experiment
masses in the lab. ➢ Draw up tables for data that may need to be recorded (Recording of Results)
➢ Describe how data may be used in order to reach a conclusion

Very Important …
➢ When planning an investigation, the method chosen must be ordered in a logical sequence.
➢ The overall method suggested should be workable. It should be possible to collect any data required
without difficulty if the apparatus were assembled as described.
➢ Words & labelled diagrams should be used for describing the apparatus & how to use it.
➢ If measuring instruments are required, they should be chosen to measure the correct quantity to a
suitable precision.
➢ Control experiments may be of the type where all factors are identical to the experiment except for the
independent variable.
You should be able to describe the main steps that you would use in order to get the point of being able
to draw conclusions, including, as appropriate, preparation of results tables, proposed graphs to plot,
key points to consider in any evaluation of the method and results, and reference back to the
prediction.
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Question

The hydroxides of Group I metals (LiOH, NaOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH) are highly corrosive white solids which rapidly
absorbs water vapour on exposure to the atmosphere. All of these solids dissolve exothermically in water.

a) The enthalpy change of solution, ∆Hsol for any Group I can be measured experimentally in the lab.
In experiments to compare ∆Hsol for LiOH, NaOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH state
The independent variable _______________________________________________________
The dependent variable _________________________________________________________
The other variable to be controlled ________________________________________________

b) Draw a labelled diagram to show the apparatus you would use to obtain data from which ∆Hsol could be
determined.

From the information given above and the apparatus you plan to use, identify two possible sources of error in
the experiment and state how you would minimize the effect of each.
Error 1 ______________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________________

Error 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________
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c) Identify a health and safety risk in the experiment and explain how you would minimize it when carrying out the
experiment.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

d) Describe the procedure you would carry out to find the enthalpy change of solution, ∆Hsol, for one of the Group I
hydroxides.
Your plan should give a step-by-step description of the method, including
• How you would measure the independent variable
• How you would measure the dependent variable
• Appropriate masses and volumes of reagents
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

The following data may be of use in planning the detail of your experiment.

Ar : Li 6.9; Na 23.0; K 39.1; Rb 85.5; Cs 133.0; O 16.0, H 1.0

4.3 J are required to raise the temperature of 1.0cm3 of any solution by 1oC.
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e) The procedure is repeated for each of the Group I hydroxides.

Show how you would tabulate the results for all the experiments.

f) Show how you would use the results of one experiment to calculate the enthalpy change of solution, ∆Hsol, for
the reaction.
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Part 2 : Analysis, conclusions & evaluation

1 Dealing with data ➢ Process the raw data. How?

• Data in a table is • Choose & carry out calculations required to simplify data or make it comparable.
given but these • Choose & construct appropriate data tables, including columns for calculated
data are just raw values, and headings including quantity and unit where appropriate
data. ➢ Once the raw data is processed, the next steps
• To construct suitable graphs displaying independent variable on the x-axis &
dependent variable on the y-axis
• Chosen scales should be easily readable
• Points plotted shown as small crosses with hard, sharp pencil.
• Line of best fit is drawn either a straight line or a curve
The graph must cover at least half of the graph paper provided.

You must also be able to recognize & understand the significance of observations made
from qualitative tests and use them to identify the functional groups within a molecule

You should be able to identify peaks obtained from spectra and use these to determine
the structures of molecules.

You should be able to use chemical data from other sources (eg melting points, optical
isomer rotation).

2 Evaluation ➢ Identify values which are clearly anomalous in provided data (in a table or graph),
suggest possible explanations for anomalous readings & suggest appropriate
means of dealing with such anomalies (
➢ Identify the extent to which provided readings have been adequately replicated,
and describe the adequacy of the range of data provided
➢ Use provided information to assess the extent to which selected variables have
been effectively controlled
➢ Use these evaluations and provided information to make informed judgements on
the confidence with which conclusions may be drawn
➢ Identify and explain the weaknesses of the experimental procedure used
➢ Suggest and explain the effect that a change in the concentrations of reagents or
the conditions used for the experiment might have on the results obtained
➢ Explain the consequences that the incorrect use of apparatus might have on the
results obtained
➢ Draw conclusions about the reliability of the investigations

3 Conclusions ➢ Draw conclusions from an investigation, providing a detailed description of the

key features of the data and analyses, and considering whether experimental data
supports a given hypothesis
➢ Make a detailed scientific explanation of the data, analyses and conclusions that
you have described
➢ Make further predictions, ask informed & relevant questions and suggest
improvements
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Question

Basic copper(II) carbonate is a mixture of copper(II) carbonate and copper(II) hydroxide with varying amounts of
water of crystallisation.
The formula may be represented as [Link](OH)2.xH2O.
A group of students conduct an experiment to determine the relative formula mass and the actual value of x in the
formula of the basic copper(II) carbonate, [Link](OH)2.xH2O.

This basic carbonate decomposes on heating.

[Link](OH)2.xH2O(s) → 2CuO(s) + CO2(g) + (x+1)H2O(g)

Each student is provided with a sample of the solid basic carbonate and the following apparatus.
• a boiling tube
• a test-tube holder
• a chemical balance, reading to 2 decimal places
• a bunsen burner

Method

• The empty boiling-tube is weighed.

• The sample of basic copper(II) carbonate is tipped into the boiling-tube which is reweighed.
• The carbonate is heated, gently at first, as carbon dioxide and water vapour are given off. The carbonate is then
heated strongly.
• Heating is continued until all of the green colour of the initial solid has turned to the black colour of copper(II) oxide.
• The apparatus is cooled and the mass of the tube and residue is measured.

(a) Use the additional columns of the table to record the calculated values that will enable you to determine the
relative formula mass, Mr , of basic copper(II) carbonate and the value of x in [Link](OH)2.xH2O.
You may use some or all of the columns. Label the columns you use, including the unit and an equation to show
how the value is calculated. You may use the column headings A to F in the equations e.g. C – B.
Make certain that your processed values show the precision of the apparatus used. [2]
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

(c) Give the co-ordinates of the most significant anomalous point.

By reference to the instructions for the experiment suggest an explanation for this anomaly.

co-ordinates .....................................................................................................................
explanation
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________________________________________________________________________________________[2]

(d) The students note that points plotted when using higher masses of the basic carbonate lie to one side of the line of
best-fit.
Suggest an explanation for this observation.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

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(e) How would you modify the experiment to overcome the problem described in (d)?
___________________________________________________________________________________________

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(f) Draw construction lines on the graph to derive values to enable you to calculate the relative formula mass of the
basic copper(II) carbonate and the value of x in [Link](OH)2.xH2O.
Values read from graph, including units
x-axis ...................................................... y-axis ...........................................................

Calculation of the relative formula mass, Mr Calculation of x in the formula [2]

[Ar: H, 1.0; C, 12.0; O, 16.0; Cu, 63.5]

(g) By considering the data you have processed and the graph you have drawn, explain if the experimental procedure
described is suitable for the determination of the relative formula mass of the basic carbonate.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________[1]

(h) What other measurements could be made during the course of the experiment to provide alternative data to
determine the relative formula mass and the value of x ?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________[1]

(i) Explain why the precision of the experiment would improve if students used a chemical balance weighing to 3
decimal places.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________[1]
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

1) PREPARATION OF STANDARD SOLUTIONS

PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Example 1 : To prepare a 250 cm3 of 2 mol dm3 of NaOH(aq)

Example 2 : To prepare 100 cm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3 NaOH(aq) from 2.0 mol dm-3 NaOH solution using a dilution
method

Important : Calculate the volume of stock solution required in this case 2.0 mol dm-3 NaOH.
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

2) Heating a solid & collecting & measuring volume of gas produced (From Paper 3 practical)

Diagram
Method

1) Weigh ________ g of calcium carbonate in a boiling

tube.
2) Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram.
3) Read and record the initial volume of gas syringe.
4) Heat the solid strongly and collect the gas until the
volume of gas collected remains the same.
5) Record the final volume of gas syringe.

Heat [Note : Capacity of gas syringe chosen must be appropriate & related to mass of solid used)

3) Reacting a solid and a liquid, collecting & measuring gas produced.

Example : Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by manganese dioxide

Reaction of CaCO3 and HCl

Experimental set up

Improvement to reduce loss of gas

Procedure for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide Procedure for the reaction of HCl & CaCO3

1) Measure 100cm3 of H2O2 into the conical flask. 1) Measure & pour 100cm3,, 0.5 mol dm-3 of HCl
2) Weigh 1g of MnO2 & pour into the conical flask into a conical flask.
containing H2O2. 2) Weigh 5g of CaCO3 & put the solid into the flask
3) Quickly place the bung & gas syringe to the conical containing HCl.
flask & immediately start the stopwatch. 3) Quickly place the bung & gas syringe to the
4) Measure & record the volume of gas produced at 1 conical flask & immediately start the stopwatch.
min interval until a constant volume is obtained. 4) Measure & record the volume of gas produced
at 30 seconds interval until a constant volume is
obtained.
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

4) TITRATION METHOD TO MEASURE ENTHALPY CHANGE OF NEUTRALISATION, ∆Hn

Example : To measure the enthalpy change of neutralization for the reaction between HCl & NaOH

1. Pipette 25.0cm3 of 1.0 mol dm3 NaOH

solution into the polystyrene cup.
2. Record the temperature of NaOH(aq).
3. Add 5cm3 of 1.0 mol dm3 HCl from the
burette to the cup.
4. Stir using the thermometer & record the
highest temperature.
5. Continue adding 5cm3 of HCl from the
burette until a total volume of 50cm3 has
been added. Record the highest
temperature of the mixture after each
addition.
6. Determine ∆Hn

Volume of HCl added/ cm3 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Temperature/ oC 28.0 31.5 32.5 35.0 37.0 39.0 41.0 43.0 40.5 37.5 35.0
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

5) To measure enthalpy changes of neutralization by using calorimeter

• 80cm3 of 1.0mol/dm3 HCl is placed in a polystyrene cup.

• Temperature of HCl(aq) in the cup is recorded, (initial
temperature).
• 50cm3 of 1.5 mol/dm3 NaOH (at same temperature) is added to the
acid in cup.
• The reaction mixture is stirred with the thermometer and the
highest temperature is recorded, (final temperature).
• Determine ∆Hn

Improvements to the experimental set up

6) To measure enthalpy change of solution by experiment by using calorimeter

Example : Dissolving NaOH in water

1) Weigh 2g of solid NaOH.

2) Measure 200cm3 of water & pour into the polystyrene cup.
3) Record the initial temperature of water.
4) Add solid NaOH into the water.
5) Stir the mixture using thermometer.
6) Record the highest temperature of the solution.
7) Determine ∆Hn
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

8) To measure enthalpy change of combustion of alcohol eg ethanol

Method

1. 250cm3of distilled water is poured into a copper can

on top of a tripod stand.
2. The initial temperature of the water is recorded
with a thermometer reading nearest to 0.5 oC.
3. A spirit burner containing ethanol is weighed and
placed under the metal container. The cap of the
burner must be kept on when the burner is not lit to
avoid evaporation of the ethanol.
4. Its wick is then lighted.
5. The water in the copper container is stirred with a
thermometer.
6. When the temperature rises by about 10oC, the flame is extinguished.
7. The highest temperature is then recorded.
8. The spirit burner is reweighed again with its cap on it.

Results

Mass of lamp /g Mass of Temperature / oC

Initial Final ethanol /g Initial Final Change, ∆T
m1 m2 m2 - m1 T1 T2 T 2 - T1

Calculations

Improvement to the experiment

PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

8. Methods of measuring rate of reaction

Property Type of data Typical Equation for Experimental set-up

measured collected equipment determining rate
used
Volume Rate = ∆volume/∆t
Volume of gas formed

Gas syringe

Mass Balance Rate = ∆mass/∆t

Change in mass of a reactant or a product

Rate =
Temperature

Increase or decrease in temperature

Thermometer

∆temperature/∆t

Colour Rate =
Spectrophotometer
Change in the amount of light

compound; changes with the

∆absorbance/∆t
of a specific wavelength
absorbed by a chemical

concentration of the
compound
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

pH Change in the pH meter Rate = ∆pH/∆t

concentration of
H+ or OH – ions as
a reaction
proceeds

9. A clock reaction to study the effect of concentration on the rate of reaction.

A reaction between sodium thiosulfate solution and hydrochloric acid is shown by an equation below:
Na2S2O3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + SO2(g) + S(s)

When these two reagents react, after a short period they slowly produce a white or yellow precipitate of sulfur. As
more sulfur is produced, the reaction mixture becomes more cloudy until it cannot be seen through (i.e. it is
opaque). The time taken for the mixture to become opaque can be dependent on the relative concentrations of
the reagents or the temperature of the reaction mixture.

Method

1. 50 cm3of 0.2 mol dm-3 sodium thiosulfate solution is

measured using a 50 cm3 measuring cylinder and poured
into a conical flask.
2. The conical flask is placed on a piece of filter paper
marked with an ‘X’.
3. 5 cm3 hydrochloric acid is measured using a 10 cm3
measuring cylinder.
4. The hydrochloric acid is added into a conical flask and
the stopwatch is started immediately.
5. The mixture is stirred with a glass rod once.
6. The stopwatch is stopped as soon as the ‘X’ mark
becomes invisible.
7. The time take is recorded in a table.
8. The experiment is repeated using different
concentrations of sodium thiosulphate solutions as in
the table. This is done by using different volumes of
sodium thiosulfate solutions and water).
Results

Experiment Volume of Volume of Volume of Concentration Time take /s 1/time /s- 1

no Na2S2O3 (aq) H2O / cm3 HCl / cm3 of Na2S2O3 (aq)
/ cm3 /mol dm-3
1 50 0 5 0.20
2 40 10 5 0.16
3 30 20 5 0.12
4 20 30 5 0.08
5 10 40 5 0.04
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

10. Solubility

Solubility is defined as the amount of a substance that will dissolve in and just saturate 100g of solvent a particular
temperature.

Sodium chloride dissolves in water to form a saturated solution.

A saturated solution is one in which no more solid can dissolve at a particular temperature.
In a saturated solution in contact with undissolved solid, the following equilibrium is established.

NaCl(s) + aq Na+(aq) + Cl –(aq)

Solubility of NaCl(s)

Method

1) Pour 100 cm3of distilled water into a 250 cm3 beaker.

2) Add NaCl(s) a little at a time, stirring the mixture using a glass rod.
3) Continue adding NaCl(s) until no more solid can dissolve in water. A saturated solution of NaCl is obtained.
4) Leave the saturated solution to equilibrate for a few hours.
5) Weigh an empty evaporating dish.
6) Weigh a sample of the saturated solution in an evaporating dish.
7) Evaporate the saturated solution by gentle heating until all the water has evaporated and dry solid is
obtained.
8) Cool the evaporating dish and weigh the mass of the evaporating dish and solid NaCl.

Results
Mass of evaporating dish/g 75.10
Mass of evaporating dish + saturated solution/g 92.50
Mass of evaporating dish + solid/g 85.10
Mass of saturated solution/g
Mass of solid/g
Mass of water loss/g

Calculation of solubility
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

11. Electrochemistry
Electrolysis of acidified water or dilute sulfuric acid & to collect gases produced

Electrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid The electrolysis of aqueous copper(II) sulfate to determine Faraday
constant or Avogadro constant

• The cathode is cleaned and weighed before being placed in the copper(II)
sulfate solution.
• The circuit is completed and the current set at 0.3 A by adjusting the variable
resistor.
• The current is maintained at 0.3 A for exactly 40 minutes at which point the
circuit is broken.
• The cathode is removed from the solution and carefully washed with distilled water
to remove any copper(II) sulphate solution.
• Distilled water is removed from the cathode by rinsing it with propanone in
which the water dissolves.
• The cathode is finally dried by allowing the propanone to evaporate from its
surface.
• The cathode is reweighed.
Electrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid Simple cell/electrochemical cell set-up to measure voltage
PAPER 5 : Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

12. Reduction of oxides of metal by hydrogen

Eg Reduction of oxides of lead or copper with hydrogen to determine empirical formulae

An experiment was carried out as follows.

• An empty reduction tube was weighed and the mass recorded.
• A sample of the lead oxide was added to the reduction tube and the new mass recorded.
• The reduction tube and lead oxide were heated strongly for five minutes in a stream of hydrogen and then allowed to
cool back to room temperature.
• The reduction tube and contents were then reweighed and the mass recorded.

13. Drying agents for gases

➢ A chosen drying agent must be able to remove water & at the same time, the drying agent does not react
with the gases to be dried.

➢ To dry an acidic gas, an acidic drying agent must be used because they do not react with each other. It will
only remove the water from the acidic gas. Eg concentrated H2SO4

➢ To dry an alkaline gas, a basic drying agent must be used such as quick lime or CaO to dry ammonia.

➢ To remove CO2, use solid NaOH, KOH or Ca(OH)2 or their aqueous solutions.

14. Combustion Analysis