Science Project Guidelines 2014

Chemistry 21

Science Project Guidelines 2014

Project Description:

Each year a science research project is completed as part of the Level 1 Chemistry. Students are asked to use creativity and scientific reasoning skills to complete this long-term project. Students should keep the following goals in mind as they move through this project.

1. Develop experimental procedures to investigate a chemical system.

2. Use appropriate equipment and proper lab technique to collect data.

3. Analyze data to produce meaningful, supportable conclusions.

You will work in groups of 3. You may choose your lab partners, but choose wisely; best friends are not always the best partners.

We suggest that you use one of the techniques from labs earlier in the year, including gravimetric analysis, titration, calorimetry, spectroscopy, etc, to investigate the relationship between two variables from the list below. We suggest that you check your binder or the teacher’s website to look back over the labs from the first semester, (including Separation of a Mixture, Determining Percent Yield of a Reaction, Molarity Lab, The Formula of a Hydrate, Copper Extraction Lab, among others) to brainstorm ideas for your experimental design. You may investigate other variables not shown here, but you must make sure that all data is quantitative. You can also use Vernier probes that are listed on the last page of this document.

Mass Volume Concentration

Temperature Absorbance of light Reaction Rate

pH, pKa, pKb Vapor Pressure Atomic Structure

Surface Area Enthalpy of Reaction Voltage

Molecular Structure Pressure Conductivity

Equilibrium Constant Reactivity Specific heat

Buffer capacity Amps Boiling/Melting point

van’t Hoff factor Lattice energy Solubility

Molar mass Electronegativity Ionization energy

Toxicity Viscosity Caloric content

Freezing point depression Heat of combustion Boiling point elevation

Project Timeline:

Students will have access to lab materials during double blocks only. All double blocks will be reserved for science project through the early May. Students should plan accordingly and maximize time with lab equipment. Additional lab time will not be offered for missed lab blocks regardless of the reason. This includes absences due to sickness, fieldtrips, half days, and snow days. Plan ahead!

Data Collection and Record Keeping:

All groups are required to keep a 3-ring project binder in the classroom to document all information collected during this experience. This means collected data in the lab and background information from other research material. The binder will have eight tabbed dividers.

The first section will contain researched information/notes.

● Copies of background information or notes taken. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! You will be required to submit a list of sources (properly cited) with your final paper.

● It is recommended that you obtain at least one new source per cycle. Demonstrate that you are continuing to increase your background knowledge.

The following sections will correspond to each double block. Each section will contain, in order, a progress report, processed data (tables and graphs), and raw data. All this is due at the beginning of the class following the lab block.

Progress Report

● This report will outline work completed on the project to date, plans for the next double block, and a time accounting for the double block. See the sample progress report for proper format.

Data and Data Processing

● Students should have a physical copy of all data collected. Data stored electronically is not enough. Include sample calculations and graphs produced. Save everything! All data must be in clear, easy-to-read tables or graphs.

Materials:

Students will be provided with most materials in the lab. This will include laptops and the Vernier Probes. Spectronic 20’s will also be available for some groups. It is possible to complete a wide variety of projects given the available equipment. Students may be asked to supply some materials if it deviates from the chemistry department’s standard equipment.

Students must sign up for all equipment the class period before double block. Because there will be many different types of research happening at once, it may not be possible to provide the students with equipment requested on the day of double block or equipment might be reserved for another group. This includes probes AND computers. Plan and sign-up early.

Assessments and Final Products:

Through the following, students should demonstrate their mastery of the goals established for this project. Other assessments may be integrated as the project progresses.

● Project proposals

Many groups have each person write their own proposal and choose the best proposal after consultation with their teacher. You can also work together on three proposals.

● Midway presentation to class

Each group will prepare 2-3 slides about their project and present to the class.

● Binder checks (not announced)

Remember to have hard copies of all of your data. It should be properly organized in the binder.

● Project poster (Poster night is June 10th at 6:30. Attendance is mandatory.)

Poster night is for all Honors science students at WHS. The poster will include the same information as in the paper, but more concise. You should not just print out your paper and glue it to your poster. You also need to make sure that all axis labels, graph legends, etc are large enough for easy viewing.

● Final paper

The final paper is a record of all of your work. Make sure that it is clear enough so that anyone with a basic chemistry background would be able to read it and reproduce your work. Make sure to include the important sections, such as purpose, procedure, data, data processing and discussion.

Chemistry 21

Science Project Proposals

Your group will hand in three project proposals. Proposals must be typed and no longer than one page per proposal. Follow the following format.

Names in alphabetical order (by last name)

Research Question:

Constants: What variables will you hold constant so your results will be comparable from trial to trial?

Experimental Procedure: Provide a step-by-step procedure for answering your question. Include proper names of lab equipment and chemicals.

Background Information: Provide a thorough description of the chemistry behind your research topic. Common knowledge does not apply here. Proposals without proper background information will not be accepted.

Supporting References: Provide any and all sources used to create this proposal. Provide at least three per system. Proper documentation is required. Please use MLA formatting.

Progress Report Example

George Clinton Date of Lab: 4/3/78

Bootsy Collins

Stuart Nerdlington

Research Topic: The effect of Blasting the Phat Beats (BPB) on the Kc value of the reaction PFunk(aq) ⇄ P+(aq) + Funk-(aq).

Summary of Past Work:

● Established an absorption curve for the purple species PFunk.

● Determined that the Kc value of the reaction without BPB is 4.6 ´ 10-3.

● Determined that administration of BPB causes an increase of the Kc to 6.6 ´ 10-3.

Today’s Goals: Repeat experiment with massive subwoofer(s).

Today’s Results: BPB with massive subwoofers had a similar, though less pronounced effect on the Kc value; it increased 5.0 ´ 10-3.

Time Accounting:

0-15 min: tore the roof off the sucker

15-45 min: got up for the down stroke

45-65 min: performed experiment

65-90 min: Trombipulated

90-95 min: contacted the Mothership

95-100 min: cleaned up

100-120 min: turned this mother out

Plan for Next Lab: Investigate the effect of treble levels on the equilibrium.

Vernier LabPro Equipment

Students may incorporate the Vernier Lab equipment into their research. The program provided can be used with multiple probes to monitor different variables at the same time. The probes available in this lab are listed below.

Sensor / Description / Picture
Temperature Probe / The temperature is an accurate and durable sensor for measuring temperature.
Range: -25oC to +125oC
pH Sensor / The pH sensor is a Ag-AgCl gel-filled combination electrode and amplifier. It includes a storage solution that attaches directly to the electrode.

Range: 0 to 14

Gas Pressure Sensor / The Gas Pressure Sensor can be used for pressure-volume, pressure-temperature, and vapor pressure experiments.

Range: 0 to 2.1 atm

Colorimeter

/ The Colorimeter allows you to study the light absorption of various solutions. It can be used with Beer’s Law experiments, determining the concentration of unknown solutions, or studying the changes in concentration over time.
Conductivity Probe
/ This probe has the ability to test for salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), or conductivity in water samples. It can be used to investigate the difference between ionic and molecular compounds, strong and weak acids, salinity, or ionic compounds that yield different ratios of ions. The conductivity probe can monitor concentration or conductivity at three different sensitivity settings.
Dissolved Oxygen Probe / The Dissolved Oxygen Probe can be used to determine the concentration of oxygen in aqueous solutions. It has a built-in temperature compensation and a fast response time.
Range: 0 – 15 (mg/L) ppm

Light Sensor

/ The Light Sensor approximates the human eye in spectral response and can be used over three different illumination ranges. It can be used for inverse square law experiments or for studying solar energy. /

UVB Sensor