12.1

Experimental design

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)  · Unit 12: Experimental techniques and chemical analysis  · 12 flashcards

Experimental design is topic 12.1 in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) syllabus , positioned in Unit 12 — Experimental techniques and chemical analysis , alongside Separation and purification and Identification of ions and gases.  In one line: A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. Water is a common solvent.

This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical). Past papers from 2022 to 2025 show this topic across undefined questions worth 151 marks (around 2.4% of all Chemistry marks in those years).

The deck below contains 12 flashcards — 6 definitions, 2 key concepts and 4 identification cards — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.  Use the 6 definition cards to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.

Key definition

A solvent

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. Water is a common solvent.

Example: water dissolves sugar to create a sugar solution.

What the Cambridge 0620 syllabus says

2026-2028 syllabus, in our words

What the syllabus expects you to be able to do in this topic, in plain English. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks. For the exact wording, see the official syllabus (PDF).

  1. Name Name suitable apparatus for measuring time (stop-watches), temperature (thermometers), mass (balances) and volume (gas syringes, measuring cylinders, burettes and volumetric pipettes).
  2. Suggest Suggest the strengths and weaknesses of experimental methods and of apparatus.
  3. Describe Describe what each term means: solvent, a substance in which a solute dissolves; solute, a substance that dissolves in a solvent; solution, a mixture made when one or more solutes dissolve in a solvent; saturated solution, a solution holding the greatest possible concentration of solute in the solvent at a stated temperature; residue, the substance left behind after filtration, evaporation, distillation or a similar process; filtrate, the liquid or solution that has gone through a filter.
Key Concept Flip

Name appropriate apparatus for measuring time.

Answer Flip

A stopwatch or stopclock is appropriate for measuring time in chemistry experiments. These provide readings typically to the second or fraction of a second.

Example: in an experiment to measure the rate of reaction between hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon, a stopwatch is used to record the time taken for the magnesium to completely dissolve.
Key Concept Flip

Name appropriate apparatus for measuring temperature.

Answer Flip

A thermometer is used to measure temperature. Common types include liquid-in-glass thermometers or electronic temperature probes.

Example: when investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips, a thermometer monitors the temperature of the acid to ensure a fair test.
Key Concept Flip

Name appropriate apparatus for measuring mass.

Answer Flip

A balance (electronic or manual) is used to measure mass. Electronic balances provide highly accurate mass measurements and are commonly used for quantitative experiments.

Example: when weighing reactants before a reaction.
Key Concept Flip

Name appropriate apparatus for measuring volume.

Answer Flip

Measuring cylinders, beakers, burettes, and pipettes are used for measuring volume. Burettes and pipettes are more accurate for precise volume measurements, such as during titrations.

Example: using a burette to dispense a precise volume of acid into a base solution.
Definition Flip

What is a solvent?

Answer Flip

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. Water is a common solvent.

Example: water dissolves sugar to create a sugar solution.
Definition Flip

What is a solute?

Answer Flip

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. Sugar is a common solute.

Example: sugar dissolves in water to create a sugar solution.
Definition Flip

What is a solution?

Answer Flip

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent.

Example: Saltwater is a solution where salt (solute) is dissolved in water (solvent).
Definition Flip

What is a saturated solution?

Answer Flip

A saturated solution contains the maximum concentration of a solute dissolved in the solvent at a specified temperature. No more solute can dissolve.

Example: Adding sugar to water until no more dissolves at room temperature.
Definition Flip

What is a residue?

Answer Flip

A residue is the substance that remains after a process like evaporation, distillation, or filtration. For

Example: When filtering sand from a mixture of sand and water, the sand remaining in the filter paper is the residue.
Definition Flip

What is a filtrate?

Answer Flip

A filtrate is the liquid or solution that has passed through a filter. For

Example: When filtering sand from a mixture of sand and water, the water that passes through the filter paper is the filtrate.
Key Concept Flip

What is the effect of catalyst mass on a reaction?

Answer Flip

The mass of the catalyst has no effect on the reaction. It speeds up the reaction but is unchanged at the end of the reaction. Only a small amount of the catalyst is required to speed up the reaction.

Key Concept Flip

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen. If the mass decreases during this reaction, explain why.

Answer Flip

The mass decreases because oxygen gas escapes from the flask or apparatus. As the hydrogen peroxide decomposes, oxygen is released into the air, reducing the overall mass of the remaining contents.

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11.7 Polymers 12.2 Separation and purification

Key Questions: Experimental design

What is a solvent?

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. Water is a common solvent.

Example: water dissolves sugar to create a sugar solution.
What is a solute?

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. Sugar is a common solute.

Example: sugar dissolves in water to create a sugar solution.
What is a solution?

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent.

Example: Saltwater is a solution where salt (solute) is dissolved in water (solvent).
What is a saturated solution?

A saturated solution contains the maximum concentration of a solute dissolved in the solvent at a specified temperature. No more solute can dissolve.

Example: Adding sugar to water until no more dissolves at room temperature.
What is a residue?

A residue is the substance that remains after a process like evaporation, distillation, or filtration. For

Example: When filtering sand from a mixture of sand and water, the sand remaining in the filter paper is the residue.

Tips to avoid common mistakes in Experimental design

More topics in Unit 12 — Experimental techniques and chemical analysis

Experimental design sits alongside these Chemistry decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

12.2 Separation and purification

6 flashcards
12.3 Identification of ions and gases

11 flashcards

Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers

These are the official Cambridge 0620 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.

experiment apparatus method procedure safety hazard risk variable control fair test accuracy precision reliability

Key terms covered in this Experimental design deck

Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.

Solvent
Solute
Solution
Saturated solution
Residue
Filtrate

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How to study this Experimental design deck

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