This is a distinction awarded assignment about the personal review (Aim D) for the Unit 2 in the first year of L3 Applied Science Btec.
"As I was homeschooled I did not have access to a laboratory, nor did I complete any secondary school science experiments. All my experience is from home chemi...
Unit Number and Title Unit 2, Practical Scientific
Procedures and Techniques
Learning Aim Aim D, Review personal
development of scientific skills for
laboratory work.
Student Name Maimunah Ramouche
Assessor Mandeep Mangat
How am I doing?
As I was homeschooled I did not have access to a laboratory, nor did I complete
any secondary school science experiments. All my experience is from home
chemistry kits and researching history’s scientists. Unit 2 was a steep learning
curve for me, and many new skills have been learnt and developed in a short
time span. Research has aided my growth and I am now more confident and
independent in my laboratory work. I have gained some of the fundamental
knowledge that is necessary for working in the science industry and I have made
a lot of progress in building the skills necessary.
This unit has allowed me to analyse the risks involved in the lab, and ways to
reduce them, as well as the ability to compare, explain and draw conclusions on
data acquired.
The skills developed, such as analysis and evaluation abilities are transferrable
to unit 3. This unit requires the justification of selecting specific equipment and
procedures, the comparison of methods and improvements that can be
identified.
Skills that were developed
There were a multitude of new skills that were developed such as;
- Filling Burettes, pipettes, conical flasks accurately
- Measuring liquids with measuring cylinders and beakers
- Using a colorimeter correctly and safely
- Calibrating equipment such as thermometers and glassware
- Calculations, such as for moles and concentrations and gradients for
graphs
All of these are completely new and have been developed through practicals and
assessments. These skills can be used in other units where there are a lot of
practical work and calculations.
Another important skill I have developed is constantly taking notes throughout
an experiment which is important when finding errors in the method or finding
improvements when reviewing results. It also keeps you attentive when working
which prevents half-hearted performance.
, Some skills that have been improved are:
- Drawing accurate graphs and interpreting them
- Drawing and utilising results tables
- Using weighing scales precisely
Research skills have also been developed and to be able to find relevant and
specific information is important. For all the experiments improvements and for
some, industrial practices had to be researched. Now I am more confident in
utilising resources such as the library or the internet to find relevant information.
Throughout this unit I have also learnt to look at my work and results critically to
find improvements in not only the methods but my application of techniques.
This will help me grow and increase the quality of my work as I strive to improve
and do better than the last experiment or report. I feel that my skill development
has been at the same rate as my peers, I have been learning along with them,
and in sharing resources we have been able to grow our knowledge at a steady
pace.
Throughout Aim A, a multitude of skills and techniques were developed which
include but are not limited to;
- Performing indicator and pH titrations, which include performing
concentration calculations, using the tap accurately, measuring liquids via
the meniscus and techniques such as using a white tile to judge colour
changes in the indicator.
- Making standard solutions
- Calibrating glassware and weighing scales
- Dilutions
- Colorimetry.
- And safety in the lab
Skills that were learnt Aim B (calorimetry) include Calibrating thermometers
and measuring the temperature of a substance at regular intervals using a digital
thermometer, Utilising the clamp and stand set-up, and making use of the stop
clock. Patience was also tested as unfocused work would lead to errors when
noting down results which would affect the quality of the cooling curve graph.
Some other skills that were improved include;
- Deciding the best scale for a graph, then plotting it accurately and
drawing a ‘line of best fit’
- Drawing tangents perpendicular to the curve on the graph, and using it to
calculate the gradient to find the rate of cooling
- Analysing the graph and using it to draw conclusion about the melting
point/ freezing temperature of substance
While completing Aim C (Chromatography) I have improved skills such as
measuring using a ruler to the nearest millimetre and calculating the retention
factors of samples.
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