ADVANCED LEVEL CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

 

Candidate Number

 

Centre Number

71637

 

Name

 

Date

 

 

PARTITION COEFFICIENT

SKILL AREAS ASSESSED :  2  Manipulation

3  Measuring & Recording

                                                            5  Concluding & Communicating

 

AIM

The purpose of the experiment is to determine the partition coefficient of succinic acid between water and 2-methylpropan-l-ol (called X for convenience).


INTRODUCTION

If a solid is soluble in each of two liquids, which are themselves immiscible, then it will divide itself between the two liquids in a fixed proportion.  The ratio of the concentration of the solid in the two liquids is called the partition coefficient (or distribution constant).

 

 

APPARATUS                                                             CHEMICALS

250 cm3 reagent bottles                                                  succinic acid solution

measuring cylinders                                                                       2-methylpropan-l-ol (X)

10 cm3 pipettes                                                             0.125M NaOH solution

50 cm3 burette                                                                          phenolphthalein indicator

                                                                                               

 

PROCEDURE

 

1.                  Place (20,30,40,50) cm3 of the aqueous succinic acid solution provided into a measuring cylinder and add distilled water, if necessary, to make the volume up to 50 cm3.  Transfer to solution into a reagent bottle.

 

2.         Using a different measuring cylinder, add 50cm3 of  X to the bottle.

 

3.            Stopper and shake well for about 3 minutes, then allow to stand for 5 minutes.

 

4.         Using a pipette filler withdraw 10.0 cm3 of the upper layer and transfer to a conical flask.

 

5.         Add an approximately equal volume of water to the flask and titrate with the standard sodium hydroxide using phenolphthalein indicator.

 

6.         Repeat steps 4 and 5.

 

7.         By pipette, remove 10.0 cm3 of the lower layer and transfer to a conical flask, titrating as before (steps 4-6).

[To assist with sampling of the lower layer it is recommended that you put your finger over the top of the pipette before inserting into the reagent bottle.  Try not to disturb the layers as you insert the pipette into the lower layer.  Once the pipette is in the lower layer put the pipette filler in position.]

 

Present your results in a suitable table.

 

 

Concluding and Communicating

 

1.      Which of the two layers in the reagent bottle is the aqueous layer?

 

2.      What is your average titre for the water layer?

 

3.      What is your average titre for layer X?

 

4.      From the results you have obtained calculate a value for the partition coefficient of succinic acid  between water and X.

 

5.      Collect a set of  titration results from the rest of the class and use them to plot a graph of the titration readings.  Use the graph to determine the partition coefficient.

 

6.      What sources of error are likely to be present in the experiment and how might they be minimised?


ADVANCED LEVEL CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

 

Candidate Number

 

Centre Number

71637

 

Name

 

Date

 

 

 

PARTITION COEFFICIENT

 

SKILL AREA 2   manipulation                                         Student Mark

Selects appropriate measuring cylinders  (2)

Use of pipette (including filler)  (2)

Thorough mixing and time allowed for equilibrium  (2)

Apparatus washed with correct solutions  (2)

Addition of indicator  (1)

Use of burette (including control of end point)  (3)

Correct end point  (2)

Correct sampling technique  (2)

Works in a safe and efficient manner  (2)

 

TOTAL

0-1

2-5

6-8

9-12

13-16

17-18

SCALED MARK

0

1

2

3

4

5

 

 

SKILL AREA 3   MEASURING & RECORDING                     Student Mark

Correct volumes by measuring cylinders  (2)

Correct volumes by pipette  (2)

Burette readings  (2)

Construction of a suitable table  (2)

Appropriate degree of precision  (2)

Units included  (1)

Immediate permanent recording of results  (1)

 

TOTAL

0-1

2-3

4-5

6-8

9-10

11-12

SCALED MARK

0

1

2

3

4

5

 

 


SKILL AREA 5   CONCLUDING & COMMUNICATING            Student Mark

Identification of aqueous layer  (1)

Averaging of titres  (2)

Calculation of partition coefficient  (2)

Drawing of  graph  (3)

Partition coefficient from graph  (2)

Consideration of errors  (2)

 

TOTAL

0-1

2-3

4-5

6-8

9-10

11-12

SCALED MARK

0

1

2

3

4

5