Required Practicals

The AQA GCSE Chemistry specification includes eight required practicals that you must understand thoroughly. In the exam, you will be asked questions about the method, apparatus, variables, results and evaluation of these practicals — even if you did not perform them yourself during the course. This lesson covers every required practical in the detail that AQA expects.

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Why Required Practicals Matter

• Required practicals account for approximately 15% of the total marks across both papers.
• Questions can appear on either Paper 1 or Paper 2, depending on the topic.
• You may be asked to describe the method, identify variables, interpret results, suggest improvements or evaluate sources of error.
• Questions often combine practical knowledge with theory — for example, asking you to explain the results using collision theory or equilibrium principles.

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Required Practical 1: Making Salts — Preparing a Pure, Dry Sample of a Soluble Salt from an Insoluble Oxide or Carbonate

Paper 1 — Topic 5.4 Chemical Changes

Aim

To prepare a pure, dry sample of a soluble salt (e.g., copper sulfate) by reacting an insoluble base (e.g., copper oxide) with a dilute acid (e.g., sulfuric acid).