The Internal Assessment (IA) is a crucial component of the IB Chemistry program, accounting for 20% of your final grade. Choosing the right topic is the first step towards success. This guide will provide you with a range of compelling IA topics, categorized for clarity, along with tips to ensure your project stands out.
I. Categorizing Your IA Topic: Finding the Perfect Fit
Before diving into specific ideas, consider these categories to guide your selection:
A. Quantitative Analysis: Precise Measurement and Data Analysis
This category involves precise measurements and rigorous data analysis. These IAs often involve titrations, spectrophotometry, or other quantitative techniques.
- Example 1: Determining the concentration of Vitamin C in various fruit juices using iodometric titration. This allows for a comparison of different brands or types of juice.
- Example 2: Investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction using a colorimetric method. You could explore different reaction orders and activation energies.
- Example 3: Analyzing the purity of a commercially available aspirin sample using a suitable titration method.
B. Qualitative Analysis: Identifying and Characterizing Substances
This category focuses on identifying and characterizing unknown substances using various chemical tests.
- Example 1: Identifying unknown cations and anions using a systematic qualitative analysis scheme. This requires meticulous observation and record-keeping.
- Example 2: Investigating the presence of different functional groups in organic compounds using chemical tests. You can test for alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, etc.
- Example 3: Analyzing the composition of a mixture using chromatography techniques (paper, thin-layer, or column chromatography). This can involve separating pigments or other components.
C. Investigating Reaction Rates and Equilibrium: Dynamic Systems
These IAs explore the factors influencing reaction rates and equilibrium positions.
- Example 1: Investigating the effect of different catalysts on the rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. This could compare various metal catalysts or investigate the effect of catalyst concentration.
- Example 2: Determining the equilibrium constant for a reversible reaction by varying concentrations of reactants or products. This allows you to apply Le Chatelier's principle.
- Example 3: Investigating the effect of temperature on the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction. This allows for a thermodynamic analysis of the system.
D. Thermochemistry: Heat Changes in Chemical Reactions
This category involves measuring and analyzing heat changes associated with chemical reactions.
- Example 1: Determining the enthalpy change of neutralization for different acids and bases. This involves using calorimetry techniques.
- Example 2: Investigating the enthalpy change of combustion for different alcohols using a calorimeter. This could explore the relationship between chain length and enthalpy change.
- Example 3: Determining the heat capacity of a metal using a method involving heating and cooling.
II. Key Considerations for Success
Remember, your IA should be:
- Feasible: Choose a topic you can realistically complete within the allotted time and resources.
- Original: Although the topic may be common, your approach should be unique and demonstrate your understanding of the concepts.
- Well-designed: A clear research question, a well-defined methodology, and a robust data analysis are crucial.
- Well-written: Your report should be concise, well-structured, and clearly communicate your findings.
By carefully selecting a topic from these categories and considering the success factors, you can create a high-quality IB Chemistry IA that showcases your scientific skills and knowledge. Good luck!
