Tips for chemistry practical exam

The application of theoretical knowledge to practical activity is referred to as a practical exam. You will gain an understanding of how to work with the relevant theory and how it is implemented in real life as a result of the practical paper. The practical exam assesses your competence to perform practical work. You have excellent practical work skills, which will help you land a solid career. Because the companies were looking for a professional with a lot of hands-on experience. In any case, the education board incorporates practical subjects into the course, allowing you to gain some familiarity with instruments and how to handle them, as well as the operating procedures of each instrument in various fields. In comparison to theoretical examinations, practical examinations are rather simple; yet, if we make an error during the exam, it will cause tension.

Chemistry practical examinations can be tough for students at times because even a minor error might cause an error in the final result. When performing the examination, always take extra precautions. Only by properly understanding the concepts of each experiment can you predict the outcome. You must begin preparing for the experiment as soon as you begin doing it. While conducting the experiment, extreme caution must be exercised because highly concentrated chemicals may result in an accident.

Below mentioned are steps to do the practical step by step:–

1.       When a question is asked, read it carefully and make sure that one has understood it completely before deciding which experiment to use for the exam. It is not a difficult chore if one understands the principle of each and every experiment conducted in class. However, one must thoroughly investigate each experiment’s concepts. Then locate the goal and proceed with the next steps.
2.       After one has determined and written the experiment’s goal, the next step is to understand the experiment’s premise. One must be familiar with the topic’s core equation and theory.
3.       The next step is to follow the procedure. The procedure varies depending on the experiment. As a result, one must understand how to conduct the experiment as well as what materials are required. One should conduct the experiment by creating the process. It is the foundation of the experiment and should be very thorough with the execution of the experiment during the practical session. Only then will you be able to recall what actions to take while performing it. One should take extra precautions while conducting the experiment, as the risk of an accident is higher due to the use of chemicals such as highly concentrated acids. And one should be especially cautious when handling the chemicals; attempt to use the exact amount to conduct the experiment; only then one will be able to obtain the correct result. Also, while conducting experiments, one should be conversant with each and every tool used. Because it is possible that it is made of glass, one must use extreme caution when handling this equipment. One should weigh the stuff, standardize the substance, and then estimate it for an estimation experiment. 
4.       The following stage is to observe and record the experiment one is conducting. The tabulation columns should be provided here so that the observation value can be entered. When observing the value, caution should be exercised because an error in the observation can lead to an error in the outcome, resulting in a loss of grade. As a result, exercise extra caution and care when calculating and documenting the figure. Also, remember to enter the value each time. Because it is difficult to re-enter the value because the status of the chemicals has changed, one must redo the procedure, which takes a long time.  So, if someone is making an observation, be sure that reading is done correctly and accurately.
5.       Calculation is the next step. Use the observed value to perform the calculation here. One should also know how to complete the computation using the basic equation. Then and only then can one make calculations based on the experiment. After that, one has to come up with a result. The outcome should include the goal for which one did the experiment. If necessary, include a graph.

Apart from the above-mentioned steps, sometimes a qualitative mistake is done by a student which can be avoided by following the steps mentioned below:-

•         Some learners believe that every test must have a visible change. In reality, the examiners may wish to test one’s “confidence” by having one’s report “No Change” or “No Reaction” when nothing happens in some assessments. When one doesn’t observe any changes, it’s not a good idea to write them down.
•         Any experiment in which one see’s a “colorless gas” is erroneous. “Bulbs of colorless gas” is the most anyone can see. If not, provide some more methods for confirming the production of a colorless gas (such as O2, H2, or CO2).
•         Don’t assume that the gas given out when heating an unknown chemical with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and aluminum is ammonia gas (NH3). It’s possible that it’s hydrogen or another gas. Make decisions based on observations rather than memorizing the theory.
•         Students frequently overlook observations on effervescence. Remember to concentrate to observe whether there are any BUBBLES!
•         Use the term “colorless” instead of “clear” when describing solutions. Clear simply indicates that one can see through it, and it is the polar opposite of Cloudy in chemistry. Use a colorless palette!
•         When noticing color changes, make sure to pay attention to all of them, not just the first and last.

Conclusion: – Therefore, by following the above-mentioned procedures and avoiding common mistakes, one can score good marks in practical exams. Apart from this NCERT Books for Class 12, Chemistry is very helpful to clear concepts which ultimately help.