Topic I.1 · HL only
Exploring and designing: notes and practice questions
Summary
- This topic extends the application of inquiry skills to exploring and designing investigations for the more complex chemical systems and phenomena covered at Higher Level.
- Formulate research questions and hypotheses that integrate advanced theoretical concepts from the HL syllabus.
- Design methodologies for investigations involving multi-step reaction mechanisms, complex equilibria, or advanced analytical techniques.
- Justify the selection of variables and measurements for experiments that explore deeper chemical principles.
- Apply additional mathematical skills, such as exponential functions, in experimental design and prediction.
How it is examined
Paper 1B. Typical shapes are "State the independent variable in this investigation" (1 mark), "Suggest one variable that should be controlled and explain why" (2 marks), and "Outline why the student used a water bath" (1 mark). Command terms are `State`, `Outline`, `Suggest` and `Explain`.
Key ideas
- Demonstrate independent thinking, initiative and insight.
- Consult a variety of sources, and select sufficient and relevant sources of information.
- Formulate research questions and hypotheses.
- State and explain predictions using scientific understanding.
Guiding questions
- None given.
Linking questions
- Reactivity 1.1 How can the enthalpy change for combustion reactions, such as for alcohols or food, be investigated experimentally?
- Reactivity 2.1 What errors may cause the experimental yield to be i) higher and ii) lower than the theoretical yield?
- Reactivity 2.2 What variables must be controlled in studying the effect of a factor on the rate of a reaction? What experiments measuring reaction rates might use time as i) a dependent variable ii) an independent variable?
Practice questions
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Where marks are lost
- Reaching for "human error" or "only one trial." A source of error has to be a specific step in the method, not a general apology for the result.
- Joining the dots instead of drawing a curve.
- Naming a chemical instead of the property that distinguishes it, or vice versa. Answering with the nearest fact that comes to mind rather than the fact the command term and stem jointly ask for is a recurring way to answer a question that was not, quite, the one asked.
