Laboratory Skills and Scientific Maths Worksheet

You have just started in a new research lab and have the following equipment available to you. Choose
which piece(s) of equipment you would use for each of the following tasks and name each piece you use.
You can assume you have plenty of bungs, tubing and adaptors plus access to a safe source of heat;

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

12 13
14

9
Top pan balance
10
11

15 Anti-bumping granules

To measure the volume of carbon dioxide produced by the following reaction;

ethanoic acid + sodium hydrogen carbonate → sodium ethanoate + water + carbon dioxide

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To obtain pure water from a sample of salt water

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To oxidise a sample of propan-1-ol to propanoic acid by heating with an excess of an acidified aqueous
solution of sodium dichromate under reflux conditions

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To make up an accurate 0.05 mol dm–3 solution of sodium hydroxide

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To recrystallise a sample of paracetamol contaminated with an insoluble solid impurity and collect the solid
product

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For each of the pieces of glassware shown in the images below, state their name and give a
possible volume(s).
a. Name: b. Name:

Possible volume(s): Possible volume(s):

c. Name: d. Name:

Possible volume(s): Possible volume(s):

e. Name: f. Name:

Possible volume(s): Possible volume(s):

Name the common laboratory equipment in the images below.

a. b. c.

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d.

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A student has made the following observations for the reactions described. Unfortunately, the observations
are not described accurately enough for the student to get the marks. In each case write a more accurate
observation for the reaction that occurred.

Reaction Student observation Corrected / improved observation

A small piece of magnesium A clear gas was produced

was added to a test tube which burnt with a pop
containing hydrochloric acid;

Mg + 2 HCl → MgCl2 + H2

A solution of The solution went clear

hex-1-ene was added dropwise
to bromine water

Br2 + CH2=CHC4H9

CH2BrCHBrC4H9

A solution of silver nitrate was The solution went cloudy

added dropwise to a solution then clear
containing chloride ions until no
further change was observed.
Dilute ammonia was then
added dropwise.;

Ag+(aq) + Cl¯ (aq)

AgCl(s)
NH3 solution

[Ag(NH3)2]+(aq)

An excess of zinc powder was The solution turned clear

added to a blue solution of and an orange precipitate
copper sulfate formed
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq)

ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

10 drops of an aldehyde The solution turned silver

was added to a small
quantity of Tollens’
reagent in a test tube
and warmed
Chemistry can be a dangerous occupation but not if you take note of the hazard signs and act accordingly.
For each of the experiments below, give two precautions on top of wearing lab specs and a lab coat you
could take to minimize the risk. The hazards associated with each of the reactants are shown;

Experiment 1

Titrating a 25 cm3 sample of a solution

containing Fe2+ ions against a solution of KMnO4 Fe2+
KMnO4 solution

Experiment 2

Dehydrating ethanol to produce ethene by

passing ethanol vapour over a hot catalyst ethanol
of ceramic pot

Experiment 3

Investigating the ligand exchange reactions of

NH3 Cr3+
hexaaquachromium(III) ions by the dropwise
soln ions
addition of ammonia solution to an aqueous
solution of chromium sulfate

Experiment 4

Heating a sample of lead carbonate to investigate

the colour changes that occur during the thermal PbCO3
decomposition

Experiment 5

Investigating the reducing power of bromide ions

by the dropwise addition of concentrated LOW conc.
NaBr
sulphuric acid to a small quantity of the solid HAZARD H2SO4
sodium bromide in a test tube;

2 NaBr + 3 H2SO4 → SO2 + 2 H2O + Br2 + 2 NaHSO4

The amount of substance in moles (n) in a solution can be calculated when the concentration given
3 3
in mol/dm (c) and volume (v) in cm are known by using the equation:
cv
n=
1000
i. Rearrange this equation making c the subject of the equation.
ii. Rearrange this equation making v the subject of the equation.

The density of a substance can be calculated from its mass (m) and volume (v) using the equation:
m
d=
v
i. Rearrange this equation so that the mass of a substance can be calculated given its density
and volume.

Do the following calculations in your head.

3+5×5=

6×6+4=

20 – 6 × 2 =

48 – 12 ÷ 4 =

4+4÷2=

100 – (20 × 3) =

The molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6. Three students entered the following into their
calculators to calculate the relative formula mass of glucose. Repeat their calculations as shown.

12 × 6 + 1 × 12 + 16 × 6 =

12 × 6 = + 1 = × 12 = + 16

= × 6 =

( 12 × 6 ) + ( 12 × 1 ) +

( 16 × 6 ) =

Write a sentence summing up why the answers differ.

 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑔)
Determine the units of density given that: 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑐𝑚3 )

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 (𝑚𝑜𝑙)

Determine the units of concentration given that: 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑑𝑚3 )

Pharmacists often calculate the concentration of substances for dosages. In this case the volumes
are smaller, measured in cm3, and the amount is given as a mass in grams. Determine the units of
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔)
concentration when: 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑐𝑚 )

Rate of reaction is defined as the ‘change in concentration per unit time’. Determine the units for
rate when concentration is measured in mol dm–3 and time in seconds.

Pressure is commonly quoted in pascals (Pa) and can be calculated using the formula below. The
SI unit of force is newtons (N) and area is m2. Use this formula to determine the SI unit of pressure
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
that is equivalent to the Pascal. 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

Express the following numbers using standard form.

1 060 000
0.001 06
222.2
0.1000
0.0943
0.03984
0.00163

Calculate the following without using a calculator. Express all values in standard form.
109
105

107
10−7

1.2 × 106
2.4 × 1017

(2.0 × 107 ) × (1.2 × 10−5 )

For each of the numbers in questions 1–6, state the number of significant figures and the number
of decimal places.
Significant Decimal places
figures
1 3.131 88
2 1000
3 0.000 65
4 1006
5 560.0
6 0.000 480

Round the following numbers to (i) 3 significant figures and (ii) 2 decimal places.
0.075 84
231.456