A student is designing an experiment to investigate the effect of different concentrations of a newly synthesized enzyme on the rate of hydrolysis of a specific ester. The student plans to measure the concentration of the carboxylic acid product over time using titration with a standardized NaOH solution. The student aims to determine the optimal enzyme concentration for the fastest hydrolysis rate.
a. Identify two potential sources of systematic error in this experiment that could affect the accuracy of the determined hydrolysis rate. Explain how each error would specifically influence the measured concentration of the carboxylic acid product, either overestimating or underestimating it.
Marking your answer...
This may take a few seconds
Sign up for free to see your full marking breakdown and personalised study recommendations.
Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Chemistry practice question worth 4 marks, testing your understanding of Data evaluation. It falls under Student-designed scientific investigation in Unit 4: How are carbon-based compounds designed for purpose?. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
Carbon is the basis not only of the structure of living tissues but is also found in fuels, foods, medicines, polymers and many other materials that we use in everyday life. In this unit students investigate the structures and reactions of carbon-based organic compounds, including considering how green chemistry principles are applied in the production of synthetic organic compounds. They study the metabolism of food and the action of medicines in the body. They explore how laboratory analysis and various instrumentation techniques can be applied to analyse organic compounds in order to identify them and to ensure product purity. Students conduct practical investigations related to the synthesis and analysis of organic compounds, involving reaction pathways, organic synthesis, identification of functional groups, direct redox titrations, solvent extraction and distillations. Throughout the unit students use chemistry terminology including symbols, formulas, chemical nomenclature and equations to represent and explain observations and data from their own investigations and to evaluate the chemistry-based claims of others. A student-designed scientific investigation involving the generation of primary data related to the production of energy and/or chemicals and/or the analysis or synthesis of organic compounds is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4, and is assessed in Unit 4 Outcome 3. The design, analysis and findings of the investigation are presented in a scientific poster format. School-based assessment The student’s level of achievement in Unit 4 will be determined by School-assessed Coursework, which contributes 30 per cent to the study score. Students complete a set of tasks to address Outcomes 1 and 2, and design and conduct a student investigation for Outcome 3. External assessment The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by an end-of-year examination contributing 50 per cent to the study score.
Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation involves the generation of primary data related to the production of energy and/or chemicals and/or the analysis or synthesis of organic compounds. The design, analysis and findings are presented in a scientific poster. Outcome 3 On completion of this unit the student should be able to design and conduct a scientific investigation related to the production of energy and/or chemicals and/or the analysis or synthesis of organic compounds, and present an aim, methodology and method, results, discussion and conclusion in a scientific poster. Key knowledge
ways of organising, analysing and evaluating primary data to identify patterns and relationships
All free, all instant AI marking.
A student investigates the rate of esterification of ethanol with ethanoic acid, using sulfuric acid as a catalyst. They collect data on the…
A student investigates the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction involving the breakdown of a large polysacchari…
During a student-designed investigation on the fermentation of glucose to produce ethanol, a student records the volume of $CO_2$ produced o…
A student investigates the effect of different alkyl halides on the rate of an SN1 reaction with ethanol. They use three different alkyl hal…
A student is analysing data from an experiment investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction. Which of…
A student conducts an experiment to determine the enthalpy change of combustion of ethanol using a calorimeter. After performing multiple tr…
StudyPulse has thousands of VCE Chemistry questions with full AI feedback, mark breakdowns, progress tracking, and study notes across every Key Knowledge point including Data evaluation.
