Version 1.

General Certificate of Education (A-level)

June 2012

Chemistry

CHM6T/P12

(Specification 2420)
Unit 6T: Practical and Investigative Skills
Investigative Skills Assignment

Final

Marking Guidelines

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and
Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Marking Guidelines are prepared by the Principal Moderator and considered, together with the
relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers.

Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available from: aqa.org.uk

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Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and
Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Guidance for teachers marking Chemistry ISAs

Final Marking Guidelines should be used to mark candidates work.
General principles
In general, you are looking for evidence that the candidate knows and understands the key idea
required by the Marking Guidelines.
It is important to mark what the candidate has written, not to assume what may have been
intended. It is also important to make sure that a valid point is in the correct context. Individual
words or phrases where the overall answer does not apply to the question asked should not be
credited.
Conventions
The following conventions are used in the Marking Guidelines.

An oblique stroke (/) separates alternatives within a marking point.

Underlining of a word or phrase means that the term must be used.
Brackets are used to indicate contexts for which a marking point is valid.
This context may be implied by a candidate's answer.
'Accept' shows answers that have been allowed.
Max refers to the maximum mark that can be awarded for a particular
question.

The Marking Guidelines show the minimum acceptable answer(s) for each marking point. A
better, more detailed, or more advanced answer should always be accepted, provided that it
covers the same key ideas.
Marking Guidelines cannot give every possible alternative wording - equivalent phrasing of
answers should be accepted. It is, however, important to be sure that the minimum requirement
of the guidelines is met and that the point is made unambiguously.
Converse answers are normally acceptable, unless the wording of the question rules this out.
For example, 'an increase in pressure favours the forward reaction or a decrease in pressure
favours the backward reaction.
Occasionally, a candidate will give a chemically correct answer that is not present in the Marking
Guidelines. If it is equivalent in standard to the Marking Guideline answer, it should be credited.
In this case, write the word valid.
All marking points are awarded independently, unless a link between points is specified in the
Marking Guidelines.
The mechanics of marking
Always mark in red ink. Make sure that some red ink appears on every page on which the
candidate has written.
For each mark awarded, put a tick close to the key word or phrase. In all cases, a tick should
equal one mark and the total number of ticks should match the mark given for that question. The
teacher should write the total mark in the margin.
3

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and
Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Put a cross against incorrect points. It is helpful to indicate omissions of key words or incomplete
answers with a symbol, and to highlight irrelevancies or contradictions etc by underlining. It
may also be helpful to write brief comments to explain the reason for awarding or withholding a
mark when the answer does not obviously match the Marking Guidelines.
When marking answers with many marking points, the points do not have to appear in the order
in which they appear in the Marking Guidelines.
Chemical Error
Occasionally an answer involves incorrect chemistry and the Marking Guidelines records CE = 0,
which means a chemical error has occurred and no credit is given for that part.
Disqualifiers
A correct point should be disqualified when the candidate contradicts it in the same answer.
Indicate by 'dq'. If a tick has already been placed against a valid point, ensure that it is clearly
deleted. Note that there is no penalty for incorrect points which are not contradictory, nor for
surplus or neutral information.
The list rule
When a question asks for a specific number of points, and the candidate gives more, the general
rule is that any wrong answer cancels a correct answer. For example, if a question asks for two
points and three answers are given, two correct and one clearly wrong, the mark awarded is one,
whatever the order of the answers. This prevents candidates from gaining full marks from a list of
right and wrong answers.
'Neutral' points
Points which are not creditworthy but not actually incorrect, should not negate a correct answer.
For example, in answer to 'Name two physical properties of metals' a candidate may give:
Good conductor of electricity, solid, high density.
In this case one mark would be awarded for good conductor of electricity and one for high
density. Solid is a neutral point and should be ignored.
Two correct points on the same answer line should be credited.
Spelling
Reasonably close phonetic spellings should be credited.
Precision
Answers given to a precision more than that expected are not penalised. Answers given
to a precision less than that indicated in the Marking Guidelines must be penalised.
Rounding
Incorrect rounding of calculations must be penalised, but only once per paper.

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Task Assessment
Marking Guidelines
Results recorded clearly and in full in a table

Mark
(R) 1

Additional Guidance
If you can read it, it is clear.
Full means completes all of the boxes.
Do not allow a list of results.
Allow a table without gridlines.

The accuracy of the observations based on 14 scoring points

14

points scores 7 marks

Mark to the grid on page 7. If the teacher results differ from the
published grid, consult your Assessment Adviser for guidance.
(A) 7

12-13 points scores 6 marks

If answers contradict, eg No visible change with effervescence

then scoring point is not awarded.

10-11 points scores 5 marks

In Test 1, solution is preferred but in the case of these indicator

colour changes the mention of solution is not essential.

8-9

points scores 4 marks

Penalise missing solution once only in the other tests.

6-7

points scores 3 marks

Accept liquid instead of solution.

4-5

points scores 2 marks

2-3

points scores 1 mark

Look for the basic colour except in Test 2 Solution D; ignore

additional shades if the answer is unambiguous.
Accept no change, stays the same, nvc instead of no visible
change.
Penalise no reaction once only.
Accept bubbles of gas, fizzes, colourless gas formed or CO2
evolved instead of 'effervescence. Do not allow CO2 formed /
produced.
Do not accept clear instead of colourless.

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

For Test 2 Solution A do not accept green precipitate.

For Test 3 Solution B accept ppt, suspension, sediment,
solid instead of precipitate.
Do not accept cloudy, misty, milky or emulsion.
Total

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Test 1 bromothymol blue

Add about 5 drops of bromothymol
blue to about a 2 cm depth of each
solution and shake the mixture
Test 2 copper(II) carbonate
Add a small amount of copper(II)
carbonate to about a 2 cm depth of
each solution, shake the mixture and
allow to stand for about 2 minutes

Solution A

Solution B

Solution C

Solution D

Blue (1)
(solution)

Yellow (1)
(solution)

Yellow (1)
(solution)

Blue (1)
(solution)

No visible change or
Green solid in
colourless solution (1)

Effervescence (1)
Blue solution (1)

Effervescence (1)
Blue solution (1)

Deep / dark / royal blue

solution (1)

Allow blue-green
Ignore green solid

Allow blue-green
Ignore green solid

Ignore green solid

White precipitate (1)

No visible change or
colourless solution (1)

No visible change or
colourless solution (1)

Test 3 barium chloride solution

Add about 5 drops of barium chloride
solution to about a 2 cm depth of
each solution and shake the mixture

No visible change or
colourless solution (1)

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Section A

Ignore absence of units unless units are required in the Marking Guidelines. Incorrect units lose the mark.

Question

Marking Guidelines

Mark

Additional Guidance

Allow consequential marking from candidates

observations.

Allow consequential marking from candidates

observations.

White precipitate with barium chloride solution

5-8

Change in colour occurs between (weak / salicylic) acid

and (weak) base / ammonia or words to that effect

Allow yellow in both acids and blue in both alkalis /

bases.

Mix silver nitrate (solution) and sodium chloride

(solution), white precipitate

Allow mix ammonia and sodium chloride, no visible

change (M1).

Allow is the only other sample that gives yellow colour

with bromothymol blue or effervescence with carbonate
or blue-green solution with copper(II) carbonate.

Add silver nitrate, no visible change (M2).

Add ammonia (solution), precipitate dissolves

Allow mix ammonia and silver nitrate, no visible change

(M1).
Add sodium chloride, no visible change (M2).

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

5(a)

5(b)

The idea that the solution contains both HA and A

pH

Mark independently.

[HA] = [A ]

Accept solution half neutralised.

pH = pKa

Accept [H+] = Ka

Total

12

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

Section B

Ignore absence of units unless units are required in the Marking Guidelines. Incorrect units lose the mark.

Question
6(a)

Marking Guidelines

Mark

Any two from:

Max 2

Additional Guidance
If more than two answers apply the list rule.

Weigh by difference or rinse weighing bottle and add to

beaker
Rinse beaker and add washings to graduated flask
Invert flask several times to ensure uniform solution
Use a funnel to transfer to the flask and rinse the funnel
Use a stirrer to prepare the solution and rinse the stirrer
6(b)

Ka = [H+]2 / [HA]
2.50

)2 / 1.07 x 10

[HA] = (10

= 9.35 x 10

(mol dm 3)

Allow any correct expression relating Ka, [H+] and [HA]

M2 also scores M1

Do not allow 9.4 (answer is 9.346).

Correct answer only scores 1 mark.
Do not penalise precision but must be to at least two
significant figures.

10

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

6(c)

6(d)

Q6(b) x 138.0 / 4

= 0.322

Using 8.50 x 10 3 gives 0.293

Correct answer scores M1 and M2.
Do not penalise precision but must be to at least two
significant figures.

Q6(c) x 100 / 0.500 = 64.5%

Using 0.293 from Q6(c) gives 58.7%

Using 0.347 gives 69.4%

Do not penalise precision.
7

Note that this question is worth a total of 5 marks.

Minimum volume and hot water:
Any two from:

Max 2

to obtain saturated solution

to increase yield / reduce amount left in solution
enable crystallisation (on cooling)

Do not allow because acid doesnt dissolve well in cold

water.

Filtered hot: to remove insoluble impurities / to prevent

crystals forming during filtration

Cooled in ice: to increase amount of crystals that are

formed

Do not allow to cool quickly.

Washed with cold water: to remove soluble impurities

Allow washing with hot water would dissolve some of the

crystals.

11

Final Marking Guidelines General Certificate of Education (A-level) Chemistry Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills CHM6T/P12 June 2012

8(a)

Theoretical mass produced = 180 x 2 / 138 = 2.61 g

Using 1.76 x 100 / 2 is a chemical error (CE), scores 0/2

Percentage yield = 1.76 x 100 / 2.61 = 67.5%

Correct answer scores M1 and M2.

Accept 67.4%
Do not penalise precision but answers must be to at least
two significant figures.

8(b)

Crystals lost when filtering or washing / some aspirin

stays in solution / other reactions occurring

Ignore references to impurities.

9(a)

Mg + 2C6H4(OH)COOH (C6H4(OH)COO)2Mg + H2

Accept multiples, including fractions.

9(b)

Gas syringe / inverted burette over water / measuring

cylinder over water

Collection apparatus must show graduations or be clearly

labelled (eg syringe, burette, measuring cylinder).

Total

18

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