Step-by-Step Laboratory Practicals for IB, IGCSE & GCSE Science

Welcome to Practical Science — a free library of over 100 detailed laboratory practicals, study guides and revision resources for secondary school science students and teachers. Whether you are preparing for your IB Diploma, Edexcel IGCSE or GCSE exams, you will find clear instructions to help you succeed.

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This Week in Science

A weekly roundup of the biggest trending science stories — from breakthroughs in physics to new discoveries in biology and chemistry. Perfect for keeping up with the latest science news.

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  This Week in Science: Moon Missions, Mantis Strikes, and Molecular Surprises01/04/2026
  From a historic Moon launch to a collapsing freshwater migration and a QR code smaller than a bacterium, this week’s science headlines span the cosmos to the nanoscale. Meanwhile, chemistry labs delivered two surprise discoveries, and a new study reveals that female mantises pack a surprisingly powerful punch.
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  This Week in Science: Impossible Atmospheres, Diamond Breakthroughs, and Sharks With Friends24/03/2026
  From an ancient planet that defies the laws of physics to bacteria engineered to hunt cancer, this week’s science news spans the cosmos and the deep blue sea. Here are six stories that caught our attention — and might just spark a great classroom discussion.
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  This Week in Science: From New Particles to Ancient Ice23/03/2026
  This week’s biggest science stories: from new particle discoveries to ancient ice core revelations. Weekly science news roundup for students and teachers.

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Latest Posts

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  IBDP IA Idea: Effect of Light Wavelength on Photosynthesis Rate: Constructing an Action Spectrum03/04/2026
  Different wavelengths of light are absorbed differently by photosynthetic pigments. By measuring the rate of photosynthesis in Elodea (Canadian pondweed) under light of different wavelengths, you can construct an action spectrum — a graph showing photosynthetic rate against wavelength — and compare it to the known absorption spectra of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. This is an elegant and visually striking IB Biology IA.
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  IBDP IA: Effect of Ligand Concentration on Absorbance: Copper-Ammonia Complex Formation03/04/2026
  When ammonia is added to a copper(II) sulfate solution, the pale blue Cu²⁺(aq) ion is progressively replaced by the deep blue tetraamminecopper(II) complex [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺. The intensity of this colour change can be measured precisely using a colorimeter, and the relationship between ammonia concentration and absorbance reveals the stepwise nature of complex ion formation. This makes it a visually dramatic and analytically rich IB Chemistry HL IA. This practical is suitable for IB Diploma Chemistry HL.
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  IDBP IA: Electrochemical Cell EMF vs Concentration: Verifying the Nernst Equation03/04/2026
  In this investigation, you will measure the electromotive force (EMF) of a simple electrochemical cell as you systematically vary the concentration of one electrolyte. By applying the Nernst equation, you can derive a linear relationship between EMF and the logarithm of concentration, allowing you to calculate fundamental thermodynamic quantities. This is one of the most analytically powerful IB Chemistry HL Internal Assessment topics available.
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  IBDP IA: Rate of Hydrolysis in Aspirin Studies03/04/2026
  Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) undergoes hydrolysis in aqueous solution to produce salicylic acid and ethanoic acid. The rate of this hydrolysis is strongly dependent on pH. In this investigation, you will use a colorimeter to track the appearance of salicylate ions (which form a purple complex with iron(III) ions) and measure how pH affects the rate of hydrolysis. This produces a fully continuous dataset in both IV and DV, making it an outstanding IB Chemistry IA.

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IGCSE Prescribed Practicals

Complete step-by-step guides for every Edexcel IGCSE prescribed practical, with methods, safety notes, model data and analysis.

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Free IB Chemistry 2025 Online Textbook

A comprehensive, interactive online textbook covering the entire IBDP Chemistry 2025 syllabus. Structure 1–3 and Reactivity 1–3 with learning outcomes, practice questions and answers — completely free.

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IB Internal Assessment Help

Preparing your IB Chemistry IA? These guides will help you choose a topic, structure your investigation and score full marks.

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