DISTINCTION awarded, thorough account and evaluation. Unit 2 Aim D - Review personal development of scientific skills for laboratory work.
Part of Unit 2 - PRACTICAL SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES
Unit 2 - Prac cal Scien c Procedures and Techniques
Aim D - Review of Personal Development of Scien c Skills for Laboratory work
Introduc on
I have learned and developed several skills throughout this unit that will be useful and applicable to the
future, be it in di erent units of the course or in future professions. These skills have been learned through
three di erent assignments involving four main prac cal procedures: calorimetry, tra on, colorimetry and
chromatography. Not only have these improved my e ciency of scien c techniques, but they have also
enhanced my competence regarding independent work, me management, organisa on and con dence.
Furthermore, the assignments have also tested quali es such as pa ence and mo va on in areas such as
taking repeats and mee ng deadlines, which are skills that will be par cularly useful in the future. Some of
the techniques developed were similar in all three assignments, and some involved speci c scien c skills
that were exclusive to each assignment. I found that I had already obtained many of these prior to the unit
2 assignments, mainly from GCSE prac cal work, and so these were easier to develop as I already had a
founda on of knowledge.
Overview of skills
Skills obtained before unit Skills developed Skills that can be used for
2 throughout unit 2 future progression (e.g a
lab career)
Calorimetry - Use of alcohol/glass - Calibra ng - Evalua ng use of
thermometer thermometers equipment
- Plo ng cooling curves - Evalua ng use of - Comparing data
from a table of data equipment - Analysing graphs and
- Drawing lines of best t - Extrapola ng data from extrapola ng data
- Calcula ng rates of graphs - Iden fying state changes
change using a tangent - Comparing rates of - Calcula ng rates of
- Iden fying mel ng change/mel ng points change/using tangents
points/state changes - Using data logger to - Iden fying anomalies in
record temperatures data
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, Skills obtained before unit Skills developed Skills that can be used for
2 throughout unit 2 future progression (e.g a
lab career)
Titra on - Taking repeats of data to - Using di erent - Ensuring repeats are
calculate a mean indicators depending on taken in order to iden fy
- Mass, Molar and the solu on (methyl anomalies
volumetric calcula ons orange used) - Handling and preparing
- Use of equipment - Washing equipment to equipment
involved in tra on such ensure accuracy of appropriately in order to
as pipe es and bure es results ensure accuracy of
- Determining point of - Checking calibra on of results
neutralisa on equipment before use - Finding an unknown
- Using phenolphthalein - Plo ng a pH curve and concentra on of a
indicator determining the solu on
- Rough tres carried out equivalence point - Interpre ng graphical
- Ensuring concordant - Comparing graphical data
results data and calculated
concentra ons to
evaluate accuracy
- Making a standard
solu on
- Conver ng values to the
correct units
Colorimetry - Plo ng a graph from a - Calcula ng and making - Evalua ng use of
mean set of data serial dilu ons equipment to obtain
- Using a line of best t to - Choosing the correct accurate results
determine an unknown lter when measuring - E cient communica on
absorbance with peers in a lab
(Colorimetry was not - Using a colorimeter - Extrapola ng an
carried out before the BTEC - Plo ng a standard curve unknown from a
course, but some general - Determining an standard curve
skills involved had been unknown concentra on
previously prac ced) using an absorbance
standard curve
- Using a magne c s rrer
- Communica on with
peers when taking
readings
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, Skills obtained before unit Skills developed Skills that can be used for
2 throughout unit 2 future progression (e.g a
lab career)
Chromatography - Rf value calcula ons - Considering factors - Carefully considering
- Separa ng compounds a ec ng separa on mings when carrying
in a mixture using paper - Using a TLC plate out prac cal procedures
chromatography - Qualita ve analysis - Using known substances
- Correct me (observing the migra on to iden fy an
management of known amino acids to unknown(s)
determine an unknown - Using unfamiliar
compound and its equipment
components)
- Comparing and
evalua ng di erent
types of
chromatography
- Using an oven to dry a
sample
- Use of ninhydrin spray
to develop a pigment
- Calcula ng and
comparing Rf values of
various substances
Skills developed and involved in all assignments (general skills summary)
A main skill that was developed in all three assignments was the ability to accurately complete
mathema cal equa ons and calcula ons that were crucial to the conclusion of each procedure. Although
each assignment involved the calcula on of di erent values using di erent methods and units, I found that
some mathema cal skills were similar and transferrable. For example, all four procedures involved rounding
units appropriately in order to allow for the most accurate result to be calculated. In addi on, the majority
involved calcula ng mean values and using this to draw graphs from which data could be extrapolated, be it
rates of change, equivalence points or determining unknown values. Another crucial maths skill was
ensuring all units were converted appropriately, again to allow for accurate results.
A further skill developed in all assignments was the ability to work to a brief, meaning the appropriate
standards and instruc ons were followed carefully. This involved the development of many other skills.
Firstly, it allowed me to carry out a risk assessment in order to adhere to safety regula ons suggested in
each brief. In addi on, it allowed for me to work both independently and in a group when appropriate.
Working independently is an important skill to have because it not only enhances con dence, but allows me
to accept responsibility for the quality of my own work. An important skill also developed included in
working independently was the ability to be disciplined in me management; for example it was crucial to
hand in each assignment before the deadline.
There are also many skills that I developed through working as a part of a group; the rst being e cient
communica on and coopera on. This was necessary in all assignments in order to ensure that readings
were taken and recorded at the correct mes. It was also important when organising and arranging the
correct equipment, alloca ng roles and comparing results with my peers. Another skill involved was the
ability to draw on feedback from my peers regularly in order to improve my work.
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