Chemical Analysis and Detection

Overview

Framework:
RQF
Level:
Level 2
Unit No:
F/505/5387
Credits:
5
Guided learning hours:
40 hours

Assessment Guidance

Portfolio of Evidence.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.

Know the reagents and techniques used to analyse different inorganic chemical compounds.

Indicative Content

Learners should research in order to identify the reagents needed to analyse different inorganic chemical compounds and describe the techniques used. They should use these techniques to identify unknown inorganic chemicals using appropriate analysis techniques. Techniques might include flame tests, gas tests and precipitation tests. They could explain how one of the analysis techniques works in terms of chemical reactions, by researching the reaction, and could go on to assess how one of the techniques can be used quantitatively.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1
    Identify the reagents needed to analyse different inorganic chemical compounds.
  • 1.2
    Describe the techniques needed to analyse inorganic chemicals.
  • 1.3
    Identify unknown inorganic chemicals using appropriate analysis techniques.
2.

Be able to classify substances according to their pH.

Indicative Content

Learners should be able to state the meaning of ‘pH’ and outline the differences between acids and bases in terms of pH. They should carry out tests, such as using litmus or universal indicator or pH strips or a pH meter, on solutions of household and laboratory substances to determine their pH. In the workplace, these tests could be on ponds, swimming pools, hot tubs etc. or in a manufacturing or baking setting. They could compare the pH of a weak acid and a strong acid of identical concentration and draw a conclusion about the concentration of hydrogen ions present in each. Learners could go on to evaluate the procedures, such as using litmus or universal indicator or pH strips or a pH meter, to determine the pH in the workplace.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1
    State the meaning of ‘pH’.
  • 2.2
    Outline the differences between acids and bases in terms of pH.
  • 2.3
    Carry out tests on solutions of household and laboratory substances to determine their pH.
3.

Be able to use chromatography to analyse materials.

Indicative Content

Learners should research to be able to state how chromatography can be used to analyse materials. They should use chromatography to analyse materials in a given experiment, such as the constituent inks in a black fibre tip pen or photosynthetic pigments in chlorophyll. Learners could explain how chromatography can be used to analyse materials in the workplace such as to separate drugs of abuse in blood samples, determine pesticides and other contaminants in water or soil, to determine dyes and additive in foods etc. They could also analyse materials using chromatography, describing the findings in terms of Rf values and go on to describe the findings in terms of the relative quantities of their constituents.

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1
    State how chromatography can be used to analyse materials.
  • 3.2
    Use chromatography to analyse materials in a given experiment.
4.

Be able to detect different chemicals in unknown compounds.

Indicative Content

Learners should carry out experiments to identify chemicals in unknown compounds, using the analyses mentioned previously. They could explain the scientific principles behind the tests used and go on to analyse the findings of the chemical tests to work out the relative proportions and/or actual quantities of constituents.

Assessment Criteria

  • 4.1
    Carry out experiments to identify chemicals in unknown compounds.