BTEC Assignment Brief: Unit 2: Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques

Unit 2: Vocational Scenario or Context

You are a newly appointed technical assistant at a large chemical plant, Chemcalequip. As part of your induction period and to progress in your role, you have to demonstrate skills in a range of practical procedures and techniques. The company is often required to identify substances.

You need to demonstrate that you can carry out different chromatographic techniques to separate and identify components in mixtures. In a report of the techniques you have used, you will need to explain the techniques, analyse and evaluate your results and suggest improvements. 

BTEC Unit 2: Task 1

Evaluate the chromatographic techniques you have used in relation to the outcomes.

Demonstrate safe working practices and a high level of proficiency when using the following chromatography techniques;

• paper chromatography of extracted plant pigments
• Thin layer chromatography, TLC, of extracted plant pigments
• Paper chromatography of amino acids. 

Repeat any separations where you can justify a lack of satisfaction with the quality of the separation obtained. Produce a report to include:

• results from the paper chromatography and TLC of extracted plant pigments and from paper chromatography of amino acids
• Calculations of Rf values and consideration of the factors that influence separation.
• Conclusions about the components and their effect on separation leading to the results obtained. 
• An explanation of the principles behind the chromatographic separations and their suitability.
• An evaluation and analysis ofthe links between the chromatography techniques used and the