Practical skills and qualitative analysis (Paper 3)

Learning objectives

Record burette, thermometer, balance and gas-syringe readings to the correct precision, and process titration results using concordant titres that agree within 0.10 cm³

Identify cations such as NH₄⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Zn²⁺ from their reactions with aqueous NaOH and aqueous NH₃, and anions such as CO₃²⁻, SO₄²⁻ and the halides from their characteristic tests

Identify the gases NH₃, CO₂, H₂ and O₂ by simple tests and iodine by its colour with starch, and describe observations precisely (colour, precipitate, effervescence, solubility in excess reagent)

Present results in tables with headings and units, plot graphs with suitable scales and a line of best fit, and calculate gradients and intercepts

Calculate percentage uncertainties in measurements, identify anomalous results and suggest improvements to a procedure