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Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: December 10th, 2012, 12:02 pm
by EastStroudsburg13
There's no rubrics online because it'll be different for every event. You will almost certainly NOT have to write a lab report (that's for Experimental Design). Any lab portions you have to do will be followed by data and analysis questions, which can be both quantitative and qualitative. They will not usually grade you on the actual lab itself, but since the lab manifests itself in the questions, it's usually a good idea to perform the lab well. ;)

Of course, sometimes part of the test will be in pure written test form, where you just have to answer chemistry questions. The amount of this really varies between supervisors. It can be all test, all lab, or a mix (usually the case).

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 15th, 2013, 8:21 am
by KristenEmily13
I found this table helpful in AP Chem last year and I think it will come in handy for this event as well! :D
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... trends.svg

And I found these nice quick reviews for equilibrium! (Though I think I need a more in dept review >.<)
http://web.archive.org/web/200610111809 ... 3notes.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/200611302339 ... otes13.PDF

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 25th, 2013, 11:43 am
by 135scioly
Will we be required to know how to do any lab tests for this event? Like titration? Thanks :)

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 25th, 2013, 1:31 pm
by Skink
I do not have the rules in front of me, but the event is not called Chem Lab for nothing. Basic laboratory techniques are expected in this event as well as competence with sig figs, dimensional analysis, balancing reactions, stoich, et cetera as far as paper chemistry goes at a minimum.

What kind of labs? I dunno, it'll probably differ everywhere. Expect anything somehow on topic with difficulty ranges. I've seen tests that have a few minilabs and ones that have one larger labs, so it depends on the supervisor. This is just me, but I'd expect some sort of lab involving an equilibrium reaction since periodicity sounds more like straight up questions. If that is acid-base equilibria (again, see if the rules specify topics in more detail...I'm simply speculating without much to work with here), then a titration would be a very appropriate activity definitely. Weak acid and strong base titrations, diprotic (or more) acids, drawing titration curves afterwards, stuff like that...grab an AP book and read up. Of course, don't only plan for that. They could ask a wide range of stuff if there's a certain reaction where they could have you calculate big K or something that's easy to administer at a tournament. I don't know. The thing about titrations is it's easy to give the reagents to all teams along with a buret and whatnot, so it's practical, you know?

What I can say is that, from my own experience, the labs are not out of left field but do rely on you having paid attention in chemistry class.

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 26th, 2013, 4:36 pm
by computergeek3
135scioly wrote:Will we be required to know how to do any lab tests for this event? Like titration? Thanks :)
You are required to know how to do labs, but the procedure is usually outlined by the supervisor...I don't think that something like a titration would be practical for a 50-minute time block (and it doesn't really relate to the topics this year). So far, I have seen two fairly easy equilibrium labs and one very easy periodicity lab. Speaking of which, you CAN anticipate having one lab for equilibrium and one for periodicity (this happened at Athens and possibly elsewhere). And I agree, @Skink, an AP Chem book is incredibly useful to learn stuff, just know that (at least in the one for my AP Chem class), equilibrium takes up several lengthy chapters.

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 26th, 2013, 4:50 pm
by Skink
And it isn't really easily self-taught. It's hard enough when taking the class...

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: January 26th, 2013, 7:03 pm
by 135scioly
computergeek3 wrote:
135scioly wrote:Will we be required to know how to do any lab tests for this event? Like titration? Thanks :)
You are required to know how to do labs, but the procedure is usually outlined by the supervisor...I don't think that something like a titration would be practical for a 50-minute time block (and it doesn't really relate to the topics this year). So far, I have seen two fairly easy equilibrium labs and one very easy periodicity lab. Speaking of which, you CAN anticipate having one lab for equilibrium and one for periodicity (this happened at Athens and possibly elsewhere). And I agree, @Skink, an AP Chem book is incredibly useful to learn stuff, just know that (at least in the one for my AP Chem class), equilibrium takes up several lengthy chapters.
What do you mean by a periodicity lab? What kind of lab would that be?
Skink wrote:And it isn't really easily self-taught. It's hard enough when taking the class...
Haha, well then I have my work cut out for me! :)

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: February 11th, 2013, 8:22 pm
by milka
Does anyone know what "Us[ing] a calorimeter to predict a curve" means as far as this event goes? Would that just be like...a temperature curve? Or sometting else? I'd assume the latter, since the topic is equilibrium, however, I'm not familiar with using thermo in an equilibrium context. Could somebody please point me in the right direction?

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: February 11th, 2013, 9:07 pm
by Skink
Good question. The thing that directly links K to thermodynamic parameters that I know of is the van 't Hoff equation (it's fun to say and...not much else), like the van 't Hoff factor you find with colligative properties. If not this, the thing is that combustion reactions tend not to be reversible ;), so I'm not sure what other overlaps equilibrium can have with calorimetry, myself.
Here's the equation in log form:
Image
I...don't think it's this (EDIT: second thought, it's definitely not this...it's way too high level even in Science Olympiad). It could just be referring to thermal equilibrium and asking you to plot temperature versus time. That seems more doable. I dunno; I'm gonna think about this a bit...

I plan to populate the Wiki page when I have a chance, so I, too, would like to hear thoughts on what everyone thinks this one refers to seeing as how I'm unsure.

Re: Chem Lab C

Posted: February 19th, 2013, 8:38 am
by labchick
At my Regionals, titration was a part of the test. My partner and I hadn't spent a lot of time on it because we didn't think it would be on the test. What other labs have any of you had for equilibrium/ perdiodicity so I can be prepared for States?