KS4 Required Practicals

Required practicals at KS3/4 bring the subject matter to life, helping and help students understand the theory better in a visual way. What's more, required practicals refine their technical skills, which are vital for any aspiring scientist in their future study and career. 

Our technical support team are often asked about setting up for KS3/4 required practicals and have chosen the most commonly asked about Biology, Chemistry and Physics required practicals. 

KS3/4 Biology: Making Onion Cell Slides

Students can make an onion cell slide in order to view the cells under a microscope.  Red onion is the most convenient to use in this instance as it does not require staining for the cells to be visualised.  A supply of chopped onion should be readily available.  A thin layer of epidermis is removed from a piece of red onion and is spread out onto a microscope slide.  A drop of water should be added to the sample, and a glass coverslip can be carefully placed on top of the onion epidermis.  The onion cells can then be viewed under a microscope.  If white onion is being used, iodine staining will be required.  1 drop of Iodine solution should be added to the onion epidermis on the microscope slide (instead of water) and then it can be covered with a cover slip to observe.

Microscopes should be wiped down in between use with alcohol-free antiseptic wipes.

CLEAPSS Hazcard: 54

You will need 

1. M100FLED microscope
2. Microscope slides
3. Cover slips 
4. Plastic pipettes
5. Iodine Solution 1%
6. Alcohol-free antiseptic wipes 

KS3/4 Chemistry: Flame Tests

Students can explore the different flame colours produced by burning metal salts in a blue Bunsen burner flame.  Choose several different metal chloride salts to give a range of flame colours, such as lithium (red), copper (green), sodium (yellow), potassium (lilac).  Students could also be given an ‘unknown’ to identify.  Remember your personal protective equipment, some glass bottles for dispensing the metal salts into, and inoculating loops to safely hold the metal salts in the flame.  Inoculating loops should be cleaned using Hydrochloric Acid in between testing the different salts.

CLEAPSS HazCards: 27A, 47A, 47B

You will need

1. Bollé Safety B-Line safety goggles 
2. Inoculating loops
3. Inoculating loop holder
4. Bunsen burner
5. Clear glass bottles with screw caps 30ml
6. Hydrochloric Acid 1M, 1L
7. Copper (II) Chloride-2-Water 250g
8. Lithium Chloride Anhydrous 50g
9. Potassium Chloride 500g
10. Sodium Chloride 1kg

KS4 Physics: Observing and Measuring Waves using a Ripple Tank

A method of determining the frequency and wavelength of stationary waves can be set up using a ripple tank.  A ripple tank is a device which uses a signal from a power signal generator to create waves in water at a given frequency.  At GCSE students are required to calculate the frequency of the waves and use this to calculate the wavelength.  A ripple tank is also an excellent item to have set up for demonstration during an open evening.

CLEAPSS Document GL142 Setting Up and Using a Ripple Tank

You will need:

1. MIDI ripple tank 
2. Power signal generator 
3. Bench PSU 
4. 4mm leads, red 
5. 4mm leads, black – B8R05711

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