BTEC Applied Science

BTEC Applied Science Unit 2

Skills

1. Undertaking titrations and colorimetry to determine the concentration of solutions
2. Undertaking calorimetry to study cooling curves
3. Undertaking chromatographic techniques to identify components in mixtures
4. Reviewing personal development of scientific skills for laboratory work.

Knowledge

1. Laboratory equipment and its calibration
2. Preparation and standardisation of solutions using titration
3. Colorimetry
4. Thermometers
5. Cooling curves
6. Chromatographic techniques
7. Application of chromatography
8. Interpretation of a chromatogram
9. Personal responsibility
10. Interpersonal skills
11. Professional practice

Rationale

This unit introduces you to standard laboratory equipment and techniques, including titration, colorimetry, calorimetry, chromatography, calibration procedures and laboratory safety. Through the practical tasks in the unit, you will develop proficiency in the quantitative analytical techniques of titration and colorimetry, including learning to calculate the concentration of solutions. You will use measurement of temperature to study cooling curves and be introduced to paper and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). You will also have the opportunity to calibrate equipment and will be encouraged to be aware of the safety aspects of given laboratory procedures and techniques.

While you develop your practical competence, the discussion and analysis of group results will allow you to understand your progress in relation to that of others and also to gain an understanding of the reliability, repeatability and reproducibility of various procedures and techniques. You will have the opportunity to use problem-solving skills when you undertake calorimetry work. There is scope throughout the unit to reflect on the skills you have gained and how you may develop further.

The fundamental knowledge, practical skills, transferable skills – for example, organisation, self-assessment and problem-solving, and the ability to interpret data – all developed in this unit will give you confidence when you undertake the more complex practical techniques involved in higher education science courses such as biochemistry, chemistry, forensic science and environmental science.

The experience you gain will be invaluable when you begin your career as a trainee laboratory technician in industries such as contract analysis, oil, biopharmaceuticals, water treatment, and polymers. Employers in these industries will appreciate your ability to follow written scientific procedures and your desire to ensure accuracy by using techniques correctly and by checking that equipment – for example, pipettes, balances, pH meters and thermometers – is calibrated correctly and that appropriate standard calibration documentation has been completed.

BTEC Applied Science Unit 3

Skills

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts, procedures, processes and techniques and their application in a practical investigative context
2. Interpret and analyse qualitative and quantitative scientific information to make reasoned judgements and draw conclusions based on evidence in a practical investigative context
3. Evaluate practical investigative procedures used and their effect on the qualitative and quantitative scientific information obtained to make reasoned judgements
4. Be able to make connections between different scientific concepts, procedures, processes and techniques to make a hypothesis and write a plan for a practical investigation

Knowledge

1. Developing a hypothesis for an investigation
2. Selection of appropriate equipment, techniques and standard procedures
3. Health and safety associated with the investigation
4. Variables in the investigation
5. Method for data collection and analysis
6. Collection of quantitative/qualitative data
7. Processing data
8. Interpretation/analysis of data
9. Evaluation
10. Protein structure
11. Enzymes as biological catalysts in chemical reactions
12. Factors that can affect enzyme activity
13. Factors affecting the rate of diffusion
14. Arrangement and movement of molecules
15. Factors that can affect plant growth and/or distribution
16. Sampling techniques
17. Sampling sizes
18. Fuels
19. Hazards associated with fuels
20. Units of energy
21. Use of electrical symbols to design circuits
22. Equations
23. Energy usage

Rationale

Advancement in science and technology has produced great benefits for society. This advancement depends on research and investigative approaches in science and technology. In research, development, analytical and industrial laboratories, laboratory technicians and scientists are employed to safely carry out practical investigations, or follow prescribed laboratory procedures. They repeat measurements to obtain consistent, reliable results. They use investigative skills, including planning, recording and interpreting data, analysing and evaluating findings in order to test a hypothesis to inform further research and development.

Science investigative skills will help you in many scientific or enquiry-based learning courses in higher education, as well as prepare you for employment in a science-related industry.

BTEC Applied Science Unit 4

Skills

1. Understand the importance of health and safety in scientific organisations
2. Explore manufacturing techniques and testing methods for an organic liquid
3. Explore manufacturing techniques and testing methods for an organic solid
4. Understand how scientific information may be stored and communicated in a workplace laboratory.

Knowledge

1. Application of health and safety legislation in scientific organisations
2. Hazards in a scientific organisation
3. Manufacturing techniques
4. Testing methods and techniques
5. Manufacturing techniques
6. Industrial manufacturing techniques
7. Estimation of purity
8. Systems for managing laboratory information
9. Communicating information in a scientific organisation
10. Use of informatics for storage and retrieval of scientific information

Rationale

In this unit, you will investigate a scientific organisation to gain an understanding of how it operates. You will investigate health and safety practices in the organisation’s laboratories and consider related primary and secondary legislation. You will also have the opportunity to compare the approach taken to hazards and risk management in different part of the organisation, for example production, the warehouse, the office. It is important to realise that, whether you progress to employment in the science industry or to higher education in science, you will have to be aware of the relevant hazards and to follow the practices that have been developed for your safety.

You will gain a valuable insight into the operation of the pharmaceutical and bulk chemistry industries by making and testing two organic compounds – a liquid and a solid – exploring how industrial production differs from the process that you carry out in the laboratory. You will also investigate the different methods for testing the purity of the products.

Management of data/information is becoming increasingly sophisticated. You will investigate how data/information within the organisation is stored, used and communicated. You will learn about the procedures used for recording laboratory information that ensure it is sufficiently detailed, accessible and traceable. Large amounts of data are available for others to use for research purposes, for example by organisations interested in DNA sequencing or in healthcare. You will explore how these data may be used and consider the benefits and issues associated with accessing and with making large quantities of data available for research.

Not only will this unit give you some understanding of the workplace environment you may enter after finishing this course or after completing a scientific higher education programme, it will also allow you to develop an appreciation of how laboratory preparation and testing of compounds may be scaled up by industry, and of how data is managed within the organisation.

BTEC Applied Science Unit 5

Skills

1. Demonstrate knowledge of scientific facts, terms, definitions and scientific formulae
2. Demonstrate understanding of scientific concepts, procedures, processes and techniques and their application
3. Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information to make judgements and reach conclusions
4. Make connections, use and integrate different scientific concepts, procedures, processes or techniques

Knowledge

1. Relating properties to uses and production of substances
2. Structures, reactions and properties of commercially important organic compounds
3. Energy changes in industry
4. The cardiovascular system
5. Ventilation and gas exchange in the lungs
6. Urinary system structure and function
7. Cell transport mechanisms
8. Thermal physics in domestic and industrial applications
9. Materials in domestic and industrial applications
10. Fluids in motion

Rationale

This unit includes: properties, uses and production of some inorganic compounds; structures, reactions and properties of commercially important organic compounds; enthalpy changes; the cardiovascular system; ventilation and gas exchange in the lungs; urinary system structure and function; cell transport mechanisms; thermal physics; physical properties of materials; and fluids in motion. It is essential, for example that chemists understand how the uses of chemical substances relate to their physical and chemical properties, as does their method of production and extraction. Scientists and technicians working in a range of industries, such as the medical or plastics industries, need a good working knowledge of the structure of organic chemicals and their physical and chemical properties.

Knowledge of the energetics of chemical reactions is necessary for scientists working in industry in order to ensure safe, efficient processes are used in the production of chemical substances.

In the medical and pharmaceutical industries, it is important for scientists and technicians to have a good knowledge and understanding of the working of the human body and body systems and apply this knowledge in preventing disease. They must also have an understanding of how diseases are diagnosed and treated.

Scientists and engineers need a good understanding of the properties and behaviour of different materials to ensure they use materials that are fit for purpose. When designing machines and engines, it is important to know how the materials will behave under different conditions and forces. They must understand how energy is transferred in order to make efficient machines and engines. For example, engineers would need to understand how a spring will behave in a car suspension system, or how heat is transferred in a refrigeration unit.

The knowledge and understanding you gain in this unit will give you a strong basis for progression in the applied science sector and to a variety of science and related programmes, such as higher nationals and degrees.