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UPDATED TO 2023-2025 SYLLABUS

CAIE IGCSE
CHEMISTRY
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE ALTERNATIVE TO PRACTICAL SYLLABUS
Prepared for Mariam Ahmed Abdelghani for personal use only.
CAIE IGCSE CHEMISTRY

4. Apparatus B: Measuring Cylinder

1. Apparatus
1.1. General Apparatus in IGCSE
5. Apparatus B is a Gas Syringe
Chemistry

6. Apparatus A is a water bath/trough.

2. Experiments
2.1. Reducing Copper(III) Oxide to
Copper and Testing Products of
Combustion
Reducing Copper(III) Oxide to Copper

Testing products of combustion:

1.2. Exemplar Past Paper Question

Here are samples of 2022 Questions about Labelling
Apparatus

2.2. Showing that Oxygen and Water are

needed for Rusting Iron and that air is
21% Oxygen
1. Apparatus W is Filter Funnel
Shows that oxygen and water are needed for rusting iron
2. Apparatus X: Boiling Tube/Test Tube

3. Apparatus A: Test Tube/Boiling Tube

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Showing that air is 21% Oxygen

Rate of Reaction Graphs

3. Rates of Reaction 1. Concentration

3.1. Factors Affecting the Rate of

Reaction
Different temperature acid
Different sizes of particle/reactants
Concentration of acid

2. Catalyst

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3. Temperature

4. Planning Investigation
4.1. Ways to Tackle this Question
The Planning Investigation (6 marks) is one of the key
4. Surface Area highlights of the IGCSE Chemistry: Alternative to Practical,
and it is possible to achieve full marks in this question. Unlike
IGCSE Biology and physics, Chemistry requires a detailed
step-by-step process in planning your investigation.

1. Independent Variable: The variable you will change

2. Dependent Variable: The variable you will measure.
3. Control Variable: Variables that you will keep the
same.

Key things which help to guide your response:

If there are large lumps, you must state, “Use a pestle and
mortar to crush”. This will get you 2 marks.
Stating the apparatus + exact volume/mass + name of
chemical/substance, always!
E.g. Use a measuring cylinder to measure 50cm3 of
3.2. Timing hydrochloric acid
Draw a labelled diagram (even if it doesn’t directly tell you
Time how long it takes for the cross to disappear from to do this)
view You may also get some marks on labels
You can change the temperature and concentration of State the type of experiment you will carry out (e.g.
acid used chromatography/crystallisation)

Example Question:

Complete six marks response:

Prepare all the apparatus needed for this investigation.
Weigh the same mass of the Cadmium metal and placed it in
a beaker. Add 30cm^3 of dilute hydrochloric acid into the
beaker, whose concentration remains unchanged. Observe
the reaction in a set time of 2 minutes and record the gas
produced using a gas syringe. Repeat the investigation using
3.3. Constant Variables Cobalt and Vanadium. A conclusion can be made by
comparing which metal produces the largest gas volume and
Diameter of beaker placing it accordingly from least to most reactive.
The Cross
Volume
5. Chromatography
5.1. Chromatography

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Principle: Difference in solubility separates different The solution is left to cool and crystallise (solubility
pigments decreases as temperature decreases)
Drop the substance to centre of filter paper and allow Crystals are filtered to remove solvent.
it to dry
Drop water on the substance, one drop at a time
Paper + rings = chromatogram.
Stationary phase: material on which the separation takes
place
Mobile phase: mixture you want to separate, dissolved in
a solvent (water or ethanol)
Interpreting simple chromatograms:
Common
Number of rings/dots = number of substances
Question: How can we obtain pure dry crystals from the
If two dots travel the same distance up the paper, they
filtrate?
are the same substance.
The pure substance only shows one dot on the 1. Pour the filtrate into the evaporating basin and heat
chromatogram. 2. Leave to evaporate and let it cool to the crystallisation
You can calculate the Rf value to identify a substance point
given by the formula: 3. Wash the crystals with distilled water
Distance moved by solute
Rf Value = Distance moved by solvent ​
4. Dry it between the filter paper.
To make colourless substances visible
Dry chromatogram in an oven 6.2. Simple Distillation
Spray it with a locating agent
Heat it for 10 minutes in the oven The impure liquid is heated
It boils, and steam rises into the condenser
Impurities are left behind
The condenser is cold so the steam condenses to pure
liquid, and it drops into the beaker

6. Separation Techniques 6.3. Fractional Distillation

6.1. Filtration and Crystallisation Removes a liquid from a mixture of liquids because liquids
have different b.p.s
Filtration The mixture is heated to evaporate the substance with the
The mixture goes in a funnel with filter paper into a lowest b.p.
flask. Some of the other liquid(s) will evaporate too.
Residue is insoluble, and filtrate goes through Beads are heated to the boiling point of the lowest
substance so that a substance being removed cannot
condense on beads.
Other substances continue to condense and will drip back
into the flask
The beaker can be changed after every fraction.
The thermometer is placed on the top to measure the
temperature of the vapour instead of the liquid

Crystallization
Some water in the solution is evaporated, so the
solution becomes more concentrated.

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6.4. Acid-Base Titration

Starting with a metal:
1. Place known volume of alkali using volumetric pipette
into a conical flask 1. Warm acid (increases speed of reaction)
2. Add indicator (e.g. thymolphthalein) 2. Add an excess of reactant + stir
3. Titration: add acid using burette until end point has 3. Filter mixture
reached 4. Transfer to evaporating basin
4. Record volume of acid added 5. Heat using a Bunsen burner
5. Repeat without indicator 6. Leave to cool until crystallisation point
6. Transfer to evaporating basin 7. Wash crystals with distilled water
7. Heat with bunsen burner 8. Dry crystals on filter paper
8. Leave to cool to crystallisation point
9. Wash crystals with distilled water Starting with an insoluble base:
10. Dry crystals on filter paper
Add insoluble base to acid and heat gently; it will dissolve
Keep adding until no more dissolves (reaction is done)
Filter out the insoluble (excess) base

7.2. Precipitation
Mix the two soluble salts so they react together
Filter the mixture to separate the products produced
(soluble and insoluble salt produced)
Wash the insoluble salt on the filter paper
6.5. Method of Separation Dry the insoluble salt between the filter paper

Method of Separation Used to separate

Filtration A solid from a liquid
Evaporation A solid from a solution
Crystallization A solid from a solution
Simple Distillation A solvent from a solution
Fractional Distillation Liquids from each other
Different substances from a
Chromatography
solution
8. Salts and Indicators
7. Making Salts
8.1. Solubility of Salts
7.1. Metal and an Insoluble Base Soluble Salts Insoluble Salts
All sodium, potassium and
None
ammonium salts
All nitrates None
Chlorides Except for silver and lead
Except for barium, lead and
Sulfates
calcium

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Soluble Salts Insoluble Salts Cation Sodium Hydroxide Ammonia

Potassium, sodium and Light blue ppt, Light blue, soluble ppt,
All other carbonates Copper (Cu2+)
ammonium carbonates Insoluble in excess giving dark blue
Sodium, potassium and Green ppt, Insoluble in Green ppt, Insoluble in
Nearly all hydroxides
ammonium hydroxides Iron(II) (Fe2+) excess, turns brown excess, turns brown
near surface near surface
8.2. Indicators Iron(III) (Fe3+)
Red-brown ppt, Red-brown ppt,
insoluble insoluble
Indicators Color in acid Color in alkaline White soluble ppt, White soluble ppt,
Thymolphthalein Colorless Blue Zinc (Zn2+) giving colourless giving colourless
solution solution
Methyl orange Red Yellow
Litmus Paper Red Blue
Universal Indicator Red Blue
Anions Test
Anion Test Test result
8.3. pH Scale Carbonate
Add dilute nitric acid Limewater goes cloudy
(CO32-)

Chloride (Cl-) White ppt.

Add nitric acid, then
Bromide (Br-) aqueous silver nitrate Cream ppt.

Iodide (I-) Yellow ppt.

Add aqueous sodium Ammonia gas
8.4. Colours of Transition Metal Nitrate
hydroxide then add produced turns damp
Compound (NO3-)
aluminum red litmus paper blue

Sulfate Add nitric acid, then

Metal Compounds Colour add aqueous barium White ppt.
(SO42-)
Copper (II) Sulfate Blue nitrate
Copper (II) Oxide Black Sulfite Add acidified aqueous
Copper (II) Carbonate Green potassium manganate Purple to colourless.
(SO32-)
Manganese (IV) Oxide Black (VII)

Iron (II) Salts Pale Green

Iron (III) Salts Brown or Orange 10. Harder Ion Testing
Question
9. Test for Anions and Cations
In this question, even though the Cation and Anion Tests are
In the 2023-2025 syllabus, the Cation and Anion Test are given at the back of the paper. Some questions maybe
ONLY given in Paper 5 & 6! unfamiliar to you. If you have cross checked multiple times,
and still it doesn’t show, it might be a “no reaction” answer.
9.1. Cations Test
Cation Sodium Hydroxide Ammonia

Aluminum Soluble white ppt,

White ppt, insoluble in
gives colourless
(Al3+) excess
solution
Ammonium Ammonia gas - damp
N/A
(NH4+) red litmus turns blue
Calcium White ppt, Insoluble in
No ppt.
(Ca2+) excess
Chromium Green ppt, soluble in Green ppt, insoluble in
(Cr3+) excess excess

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11.2. Process of Flame Testing

1. If nothing happens (i.e. there is no reaction), put “No

Change”
2. If it says “condensation forms on the side of the test
tube”, it is hydrated
3. If a solid is coloured, it is a transition metal
4. If it is non-transition metal, it is a white solid OR
colourless solution
5. When the liquid was touched with a lighted splint, it
burns with a blue flame, it is an organic fuel
(flammable)

Dip the unreactive metal wire into concentrated acid, and

11. Flame Tests then hold it in the blue flame of a Bunsen burner until
there is no colour change.
Dip the loop into the solid sample and place it on the edge
11.1. Metals of the blue Bunsen flame.
Observe the flame colour and record it down.
Lithium = Red
Sodium = Yellow 1. How is the Bunsen burner adjusted to give a scorching
Potassium = Lilac flame?
Calcium = Orange-Red
By opening the air hole to increase air supply.
Barium = Light Green
Copper (II) = Blue Green
12. Gas & Other Tests
12.1. Gas & Other Tests
In the 2023-2025 syllabus, the Gas Test Reference Sheet is
ONLY given in Papers 5 & 6.
Gas Test and test result
Ammonia (NH3) Damp red litmus paper turns blue
Bubble gas through limewater -
Carbon dioxide (CO­2)
from colourless to cloudy
Chlorine (Cl2) Bleaches red/blue litmus paper
Hydrogen (H2) Place lighted splint, squeaky pop
Oxygen (O2) Place glowing splint, splint relights

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Gas Test and test result Downward Upward Collection Gas

Method
Turns Acidified Aqueous Potassium Delivery Delivery Overwater syringe
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Manganate (VII) from purple to
colourless

Substance Test and test result

White anhydrous copper (II) sulphate turns
Water blue
Anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride turns pink Apparatus
Add to bromine water; from orange to
Alkene
colourless
Alkane Add to bromine water; remains orange
Blue litmus paper turns red
Acid
Add a metal carbonate; bubbles of CO­2
Base Red litmus paper turns blue
Carbon

13. Common Errors and dioxide,

chlorine,
Carbon
Ammonia, dioxide,
Improvements Examples sulfur
dioxide,
hydrogen hydrogen,
Any gas

oxygen
hydrogen
13.1. Errors and Improvements chloride

Errors Improvements
No Repeats Repeat Three Times
15. Drawing Graphs
Different Colour Changes Use a colorimeter
The measuring cylinder is Use a burette because it is 15.1. Rules and Requirements of
inaccurate more accurate Drawing Graphs
Add volume in smaller
Adding past endpoint
quantities Drawing Graphs in IGCSE Sciences is such an essential skill
Use a thermostatically that it is worth full of free marks in these questions. Here are
Temperature/Heat Loss the rules and requirements to earn the full mark.
controlled water bath
The same measuring cylinder Use different measuring 1. Use a sharp pencil
used in multiple investigations cylinders 2. Label both axes with units (IV on the x-axis, DV on the
y-axis)

14. Collecting Gases 3. Labels should be in the form “quantity/units.”

4. Choose appropriate scale
5. Use crosses “x” to mark the data points (for scatter
14.1. Method of Gas Delivery graphs)
6. The graph should cover at least half the grid
Downward Upward Collection Gas 7. Include an appropriate title
Method 8. Include a line of best-fit
Delivery Delivery Overwater syringe
9. Circle anomalous results
Gas is To
Gas more Gas is less
Use sparingly measure
dense than dense than
when... soluble in the
air air
water volume

Common Question: Why does the graph level off?

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The reaction is finished, and ALL of the [named reactant] has in the data, Examiners would expect a roughly even
reacted distribution of points on either side of the line over its entire
Common Question: Why must the graph line pass through length. Anomalous points should be ignored when drawing
(0,0)? the best-fit line.
It is because when no [named reactant] is added, there is no
reaction

16. Information on Tables and

Graphs
This applies to Biology, Chemistry and Physics:
Practical/Alternative to Practical (Paper 5 & 6). Scheme
through the requirements CIE wants from candidates in
tabulating data.

16.1. Tables
16.3. Numerical Results
• Each table column should have the physical quantity and the
• Data should be recorded so as to reflect the precision of the
appropriate units.
measuring instrument.
• The table's column headings can be directly transferred to
• The number of significant figures given for calculated
the axes of a constructed graph.
quantities should be appropriate to the least number of
significant figures in the raw data used.
16.2. Graphs
• Unless instructed otherwise, the independent variable
should be plotted on the x-axis (horizontal axis) and the
dependent variable plotted on the y-axis (vertical axis).
• Each axis should be labelled with the physical quantity and
the appropriate unit, e.g. time / s.
• Unless otherwise instructed, the scales for the axes should
allow more than half of the graph grid to be used in both
directions and be based on sensible ratios, e.g. 2 cm on the
graph grid representing 1, 2 or 5 units of the variable.
• The graph is the diagrammatic presentation, including the
best-fit line when appropriate. It may have one or more sets
of data plotted on it.
• Points on the graph should be marked as crosses (×) or
encircled dots (⊙).
• Large ‘dots’ are penalised. Each data point should be plotted
to an accuracy of over one-half of each of the smallest
squares on the grid.
• A best-fit line (trend line) should be a single, thin, smooth
straight line or curve. The line does not need to coincide
exactly with any of the points; where there is scatter evident

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CAIE IGCSE
Chemistry

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These notes have been created by Zhan Xuan Chong for the 2023-2025 syllabus
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