QLD - Year 12 Chemistry Unit 3 and 4, IA2 student experiment suggestions please

[k1_k1]

Heyy I just started year 12 this year, and my school has already started our IA2 student experiment, I was wondering which experiment would be the best choice for me to do and would help me to achieve a 20/20.

1. Titration experiment
2. Galvanic cell experiment
could you also provide a list of the pros and cons of these experiments?

 

[Borek]

I can't think of a reason why one could be better than other. It is more or less as asking which sport is better - tennis, or basketball?

The devil is in the details - what kind of support, hardware, glassware and reagents is available.

 

[Mayhem]

Electrochemistry tends to be quite tricky and the theory too.

Titration is easy as long as you have patience and a working burette. I'd go for that.

 

[mpresic3]

In my experience (now more than 50 years old), the titration experiment is easier. What could go wrong? I remember in my class, one group of students got the base directly from the reagent bottle, rather than the specially prepared solution from the teacher. Consequently, they could not neutralize the solution practically no matter how much base was added. The solution to be titrated was far more concentrated to neutralize, but as long as you use the prepared solution by the teacher, you should be alright.

On the other hand, I think you will find the electrochemistry experiment far more interesting. (I am old now, so forgive me if I do not understand. I figure you are under 20.) Is it really important whether you get a 20/20 rather than say a 19/20 or 18/20. Maybe you can impress the chemistry teacher and get a really good letter of recommendation if you go far the harder experiment. Maybe your instructor will be more impressed and more easily grade the harder experiment. Of course, I cannot even be sure the gavanic cell is the harder experiment. The question really should be in which experiment will you learn more from.

PS, I found titration (in eleventh grade) as stock and trade for a practicing chemist, but I will never forget the excitement I got from electroplating a nail, (in fifth grade), although clearly, your chemistry class will be more advanced than that fifth grade experiment, which did not even require a write-up.