Assignment 1

Awarding Body: GATEWAY Assignment 1 Issue Date: w/c 18/01/23

Assignment 1 Submission date: 20/02/23
Course: Access to HE
Date returned to students: 13/03/23
Pathway: Access to HE- Science Resubmission date: 27/03/23

Campus: Redbridge Individually negotiated submission date (only if

extenuating circumstances form, signed by Personal
Student name: Tutor, is attached):

Individually negotiated resubmission date (only

if extenuating circumstances form, signed by Personal
Assessor: Proma Khondkar
Tutor, is attached):
(If late, capped at pass, and if doesn’t meet the
ACs, there is no resubmission opportunity. A
request for a referral may be possible but not
guaranteed)

UNIT: Fundamental Chemistry QU006301 6 Credits at Level 3

Assignment title: Fundamental Chemistry

Assessment Plan for assignment 1:

GD2 GD3 GD4 GD7
ASSIGNMENT 1 X X

First submission Level: Grade Profile:

Resubmission Level:

Student Declaration 1: (signed and dated upon receipt of brief)

I certify that the assignment has been explained to me and that I understand the assessment and
completion date.
Signature: Date:

Student Declaration 2: (signed and dated upon completion of assignment)

I confirm that the evidence listed in this document is a true representation of my own work. I confirm that I
have not shared this work with any other student.
Signature: Date:

Brief checked by Curriculum Internal Verifier:

I verify that this assignment brief match the Performance Criteria required and that it complies with the
Scheme of Work submitted.
Signature: [email protected] Date: 16.01.23

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Part 1:

Understand how to use chemical equipment.

(word count for this task including calculations and scientific report: 2000 (+/- 10%))

(a) You are a science technician working in a chemistry laboratory. Examine different
types of laboratory equipment that you will be using during chemistry experiment.
Explain the function of at least six pieces of equipment.

(b) Use the experimental sheets provided to carry out the preparation of an organic salt by
reaction (Aspirin), record the mass/volume of all substances used and complete lab
report. Use the outcome of the experiment to critically analyse the faults that occurred
in your experiments and suggest how to minimize these errors. In addition, discuss
how this experiment can be improved.

A/C: 5.1, 5.2

Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria

5. Understand how to use 5.1 Explain a variety of equipment found in a chemistry lab.
chemical equipment
5.2 Critically analyse the faults in an experiment and suggest
ways of improvement.

Grading process: If you meet all assessment criteria above at Level 3, you will then be awarded a
grade (pass, merit, distinction) based on the grade descriptors on page 4. Feedback on how you
have met each grading descriptor will be given by your tutor on page 5.

Submission list:

 Student’s report writing and answers to questions including calculations,

diagrams and tables where required
 Harvard reference list
 Brief with completed student feedback form and signatures

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 Assignment 1 Summative Assessment Feedback

Level awarded: No level L3

Assessor feedback for first submission:

Assessment criteria met: 5.1 5.2

Developmental Comment:

Areas of Development
Areas Tick Comments
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Composition
Numeracy
Writing
Drawing
Presentation
Structure
Scientific language
Others
Level awarded: No Level L3

Assessor’s signature: Date:

Assessor feedback for resubmission:

Assessor’s signature: Date:

3
 Explanation of Grading Descriptors for Assignment 1

To achieve a Merit student must achieve all of the following:

The student’s work generally selects the appropriate method and techniques to carry
GD3 Application of out experiment on esterification reaction with very good levels of yield and purity.
Skills
GD7 Quality The student’s work is structured in a way that is generally logical and fluent and
taken as a whole, demonstrates a very good response to the demands of the
experimental investigation.

To achieve a Distinction student must achieve all of the following:

GD3 Application of The student’s work consistently selects the appropriate method and techniques
Skills to carry out experiment on esterification reaction with excellent levels of yield
and purity.
GD7 Quality The student’s work is structured in a way that is consistently logical and fluent
and taken as a whole, demonstrates an excellent response to the demands of
the experimental investigation.

Notes
“Generally” is taken to mean: “in most cases”, whilst “consistently” is taken to mean: “all the time/ in almost every case/
reliably”.
“Excellent” is taken to mean: the work significantly exceeds the standard required to pass, but allows for some small
mistakes or omissions, where such imperfections do not detract from the outstanding nature of the work.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE NOTES:

The ‘Risk Assessment’ form must be fully completed.

For an award of a merit grade, submission must include very good use of in-text referencing and a list of up-to-date
resources used. Student must give a very good explanation of the equipment used. Students must ensure they critically
analyse the faults found during experiment and subsequently suggest ways to improve the experiment carried out

For an award of a distinction grade, submission must include evidence of excellent use of in-text citation and list of up-to-
date referenced resources used. Student must give an excellent explanation of the equipment used. Students must
ensure they critically analyse and justify the faults found during experiment and subsequently suggest ways to improve the
experiment carried out.

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 Grading Feedback for level 3 Access Assignment 1

Assessor Feedback/ Action to be taken by student

Feedback against Lecturer’s comments Suggested
individual grading Grade
descriptors

GD3: Application
of skills

GD7: Quality

Assessor’s Date:
signature:

5
 Laboratory Work Risk Assessment
Programme: Access to Science

Date:

Title of practical:

Brief outline of the procedure:

Activity /equipment / Hazard, who might be harmed, Precautions (supervision,

substance gloves, goggles etc.)

Emergency action
Call First Aider

Disposal of residues:

Statement by assessor (print name here)

I, have assessed the risks of carrying out this activity, and consider that the
activity is safe, provided that good laboratory practice is followed together with the safety requirements
as detailed

Assessor’s signature Date

Review date

Additional comments

6
 Synthesis of Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid)

(Source: https://www.google.co.uk/search)

Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to synthesize the common pain killer aspirin via an
esterification reaction between Salicylic Acid and Acetic Anhydride in the presence of
concentrated sulphuric acid acting as a catalyst.
Introduction:
Aspirin is one the best known and most widely used medicines in modern society. In the 5th
century B.C. Hippocrates first used a bitter powder obtained from ground willow bark to ease
aches and pains and to reduce fever. Later German chemists discovered salicylaldehyde obtained
from a plant and chemically modified it to produce a compound with pain and fever relieving
properties and known as salicylic acid.
However, salicylic acid has serious undesirable side-effects; it irritates mucous membranes that
line the mouth, oesophagus and the stomach. In this session, you will synthesise acetylsalicylic
acid (aspirin) from salicylic acid using acetic anhydride and conc. sulphuric acid as a catalyst
(see the reaction scheme given below).
Hazards
Treat all of the chemicals in this experiment as toxic irritants.
 Acetic anhydride can cause severe damage to skin and eyes. Its vapours are very harmful if
inhaled and it reacts violently with water.
 Concentrated sulphuric acid is highly corrosive.
 Wear a lab coat, safety glasses and protective gloves. Carry out the reaction in a fume
hood.

C
7
H
6
O
3
C4H6O3 C9H8O4 C2H4O2
Salicylic Acid Acetic Anhydride Acetyl Salicylic Acid Acetic Acid

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Procedure
Synthesis of Aspirin
1. In the fume hood, add acetic anhydride (6 ml) and salicylic acid (4 gm) to a conical flask
(100 mL). You will need to calculate the weight of the material required and note this, together
with the weight actually used, on the table provided. Then add 7 drops of concentrated H 2SO4
(VERY CAREFULLY). Stir or swirl the resulting mixture.

2. Heat the mixture on a hot plate (found in the fume hood) until the salicylic acid dissolves.
Once all the salicylic acid is dissolved heat the mixture on the hot plate for a further 5 minutes.
Remove the flask from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. At this point crystals should
begin to precipitate out of solution.

3. If no product has precipitated when the solution is near room temperature, induce
crystallisation by scratching the wall of the flask at the surface of the solution with a glass
stirring rod.

4. A thick white solid will be produced. Add 30 ml of ice-cold distilled water to this solid
breaking up any lumps with a flat-bottomed stirring rod. Take care when breaking up the solid
in this manner – it is easy to break the bottom of the conical flask if you are too forceful.
Cool the mixture in an ice/water bath until crystallisation is complete.

5. Separate the aspirin from the reaction mixture by vacuum filtration. Wash the isolated solid
with several portions of ice-cold water, using a small amount of the wash water to transfer any
remaining product from the conical flask onto the filter.
6. Transfer the remainder of the filtered solid to a 100 ml conical flask.
Recrystallization: The crude aspirin needs to be further purified. The crude products obtained
from most preparations of organic compounds are contaminated with unreacted starting
materials and substances from side-reactions. These can often be eliminated by a simple process
known as RECRYSTALLIZATION. The next phase of this experiment involves the
recrystallization, and thus, purification, of your crude aspirin sample.
7. Recrystallize the aspirin from an ethanol/water mixture by firstly dissolving the aspirin on the
hot water bath in the minimum volume of boiling 95% ethanol. Measure and make a note of
the total volume of ethanol used to dissolve the crude product.

8. Add twice that volume of warm water (~60oC) to the solution while it is still at the boiling
point, and swirl to mix.
9. If any precipitate forms, heat the solution gently until it is clear, but do not boil it.
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10. Let it cool slowly to room temperature. Induce crystallisation if necessary, and cool it in an
ice/water bath until crystallisation is complete. Collect the aspirin by vacuum filtration washing
it on the filter with ice-cold water.
11. Dry under vacuum and weigh the purified aspirin product.
12. Hand in the sample to a member of staff before you leave the lab.

Results: Synthesis of Aspirin from salicylic acid lab results

Molecular formula of Aspirin
Structural formula of Aspirin

Molecular weight of Aspirin

Weight of starting material (salicylic acid)
(g)
Weight of the end product (recrystallized
Aspirin) (g)
Calculate % yield of pure Aspirin

Calculate % purity of Aspirin

Calculate % Atom economy of the

reaction you done earlier

(Show ALL the calculations clearly in a separate sheet and then write down your results from the
calculations in the table provided, don’t forget to hand in your calculation workout sheet with your
name printed)
Appendix:
1. Calculation of number of mole = (mass of the substance)/ (molecular weight of the
substance)
2. Formula for calculation of % yield = (actual number of mole)/(expected number of
moles) x 100
3. Formula for calculation of % purity = (mass of pure substances in the sample)/(mass
of sample) x 100
4. Formula for calculation of % atom economy = (molar mass of product)/(molar mass
of reactants