Chemistry IA Topics for IB Students

My experience has shown that choosing a topic for your Chemistry Internal Assessment that interests you and falls within the parameters of the curriculum is critical to its success. In my view, it all comes down to balancing IB standards, practicalities, and originality. To help you choose, I will give you the best Chemistry IA topics you can use.

How to Choose the Perfect Chemistry IA Topic?

Many students find it challenging to choose topics for Chemistry IA. They often ask whether their topic is relevant, too basic, or complicated. Three essential elements, in my view, should be included in a successful IB Internal Assessment topic:

• Personal engagement.
• Relevance to the IB Chemistry curriculum.
• Feasibility in terms of the available resources.

IB students often get confused at this point. Even a brilliant concept might be unworkable if the necessary supplies or tools are unavailable.

If you’re interested in the chosen topic, you will enjoy doing the research more and likely turn in good work. For example, a student who is passionate about environmental science might find it very useful to research the chemistry of air pollution.

IB basic standards include ensuring that your topic enables you to demonstrate critical thinking and a thorough comprehension of chemical concepts. Your IA is a chance to prove your capacity for data analysis, conclusion-making, and scientific thought, not simply a lab report.

Experimental vs. Non-Experimental Chemistry IA Topics

As far as I know, choosing between an experimental and non-experimental Chemistry IA topic will be among your first choices. Often, this decision comes down to personal preference and the resources you have available.

Hands-on lab work is required for experimental Chemistry IA topics, where you will measure, test, and observe chemical events in real time. Although the data collection for these topics is often more straightforward, they must be carried out precisely in the lab.

Conversely, non-experimental Chemistry IA topics emphasize examining preexisting data, such as that found in web databases or books.

Both strategies have advantages, but I suggest choosing an experimental topic if you enjoy being hands-on. If lab work seems too much, a non-experimental topic and question for research can be more your pace.

Experimental Chemistry Internal Assessment Topics

Let’s discuss a few of the most well-liked experimental Chemistry IA topics.

Reaction Rates and Kinetics

1. Temperature and the Magnesium and Hydrochloric Acid Reaction Rate. How does temperature impact the pace at which magnesium and hydrochloric acid react?
2. The Effectiveness of Catalysts on Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide. How do various catalysts affect the pace at which hydrogen peroxide decomposes?
3. The Influence of Ionic Strength on the Reaction Rate of Iodine and Thiosulfate Ions. What effect does the ionic strength of the solution have on the pace at which iodine and thiosulfate ions react?
4. The Calcium Carbonate and Hydrochloric Acid Reaction Rate and Particle Size. How does calcium carbonate particle size affect the pace at which it reacts with hydrochloric acid?
5. The Impact of Light Intensity on Chlorine and Water’s Photochemical Reaction Rate. What effect does light intensity variation have on the pace of the photochemical reaction between water and chlorine?

Chemical Thermodynamics

6. Comparing the Heat of Combustion of Different Alcohols. How does the molecular structure of different alcohols affect their enthalpy of combustion?
7. The Effect of Temperature on the Solubility of Potassium Nitrate in Water. How does temperature affect the solubility of potassium nitrate in water?
8. Evaluating the Effect of Pressure on the Yield of Ammonia in the Haber Process. How does changing the pressure in a closed system influence the yield of ammonia in the Haber process?
9. The Heat Transfer Efficiency of Different Metal Alloys. How does the composition of different metal alloys affect their efficiency in conducting heat, as measured by their thermal conductivity?
10. The Effect of Salt Concentration on the Boiling Point of Water. How does increasing sodium chloride concentration affect water’s boiling point?

Acid-Base Reactions and Electrolysis

11. Concentration on the Rate of Electrolysis of Sodium Chloride Solution. How does changing the sodium chloride solution concentration affect the hydrogen gas production rate during electrolysis?
12. The Effectiveness of Various Antacids in Neutralizing Stomach Acid. How do different antacid brands compare their ability to neutralize hydrochloric acid?
13. Different Acids on the Rate of Decomposition of Limestone. How do hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and acetic acid affect the limestone decomposition rate?
14. The Concentration on the Conductivity of Electrolytes. How does varying the concentration of electrolyte solutions affect their electrical conductivity?
15. Investigating the Rate of Corrosion of Iron in Different pH Environments. How does the surrounding environment’s pH affect the iron corrosion rate?

Biochemical Chemistry

16. The Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity in the Breakdown of Starch by Amylase. How does the pH level affect the rate of starch breakdown by the enzyme amylase?
17. The Impact of Different Sugars on the Fermentation Rate of Yeast. How does the type of sugar affect the fermentation rate in yeast?
18. The Vitamin C Content in Various Fruits Using Titration. How does the vitamin C concentration vary among different fruits?
19. The Rate of Oxidation of Vitamin C in Fruit Juices Exposed to Air. How does exposure to air affect the oxidation rate of vitamin C in various fruit juices over time?

Solutions and Surface Chemistry

20. The Impact of Different Solvents on the Rate of Crystallization of Copper(II) Sulfate. How do water, ethanol, and acetone affect the crystallization rate of copper(II) sulfate?
21. The Efficacy of Different Household Cleaning Agents on Oil Stains. How do different household cleaning agents compare their ability to remove oil stains from a surface?
22. The Effect of Surface Area on the Dissolution Rate of Alka-Seltzer Tablets in Water. How does the Alka-Seltzer tablets’ surface area influence their water dissolution rate?
23. The Impact of Water Hardness on Soap Efficiency. How does the hardness of water affect soap’s lathering and cleaning efficiency?
24. Activation Energy of a Chemical Reaction Using the Arrhenius Equation. What is the activation energy of the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid?
25. Surfactant Concentration and the Surface Tension of Water. How does varying the concentration of a surfactant (e.g., soap or detergent) affect the surface tension of water?

Unique Non-Experimental Chemistry IA Topics

Let’s switch to topics related to Chemistry IA that are not experimental now. These are ideal for students who would rather work with models and data than do lab experiments.

Environmental and Industrial Chemistry

1. Analyzing the Impact of Atmospheric CO₂ Levels on Ocean Acidification. How do rising atmospheric CO₂ levels correlate with the increasing acidity of ocean waters over the past fifty years?
2. The Effectiveness of Different Water Purification Methods in Removing Heavy Metals. How effective are various water purification techniques in removing heavy metals from contaminated water sources?
3. The Relationship Between Industrial Emissions and Urban Air Quality. What is the correlation between industrial emission levels and the concentration of pollutants in urban air quality indices?
4. The Trends in the Use of Green Solvents in Industrial Processes. How has adopted green solvents in industrial chemical processes evolved over the past twenty years?
5. Evaluating the Efficiency of Different Methods for Recycling Aluminum. How do various aluminum recycling methods compare regarding energy efficiency and environmental impact based on industrial data?
6. The Sustainability of Bio-based vs. Petrochemical-Derived Plastics. What are the comparative sustainability metrics of bio-based plastics vs. petrochemical-derived plastics regarding lifecycle analysis?
7. The Trends in Green Chemistry Adoption in the Pharmaceutical Industry. How has adopting green chemistry principles evolved in the pharmaceutical industry?

Organic, Inorganic, and Analytical Chemistry

8. Comparing the Accuracy of Different Spectroscopic Techniques in Identifying Chemical Compounds. How do the accuracy and reliability of infrared, UV-Vis, and NMR spectroscopy compare in identifying unknown chemical compounds?
9. Investigating the Reliability of pH Indicators in Various Environmental Conditions. How does temperature variation affect the reliability of common pH indicators in determining the acidity or alkalinity of solutions?
10. The Relationship Between Molecular Structure and Solubility in Organic Compounds. How do functional groups in organic molecules influence their solubility in water and organic solvents?
11. The Environmental Impact of Plasticizers Used in Consumer Products. What are the environmental and health impacts of plasticizers in consumer products?
12. The Correlation Between Metal Ion Concentration and Antimicrobial Activity. How do the silver, copper, and zinc concentrations correlate with their antimicrobial effectiveness?
13. The Stability of Coordination Compounds in Various Solvent Systems. How do different solvent environments affect coordination compounds’ stability and structural integrity?

Physical Chemistry and Theoretical Studies

14. The Relationship Between Ionic Strength and Reaction Rates in Aqueous Solutions. How does ionic strength influence the rate of chemical reactions in aqueous solutions?
15. The Thermodynamic Stability of Isomers Using Computational Chemistry. How do thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs free energy and entropy differ between structural isomers of a given organic compound?
16. The Impact of Pressure on the Phase Equilibria of Binary Systems. How does varying pressure affect the phase equilibria in binary chemical systems based on phase diagrams and theoretical predictions?
17. Modeling the Electronic Structure of Aromatic Compounds Using Molecular Orbital Theory. How does molecular orbital theory explain aromatic compounds’ electronic structure and stability compared to non-aromatic counterparts?
18. Reaction Mechanisms Through Computational Chemistry Simulations. What insights can computational chemistry simulations provide into the mechanisms of specific organic reactions?
19. The Impact of Quantum Chemistry on Modern Chemical Theories. How has quantum chemistry influenced contemporary theories and models in chemical research?

Biochemistry and Materials Chemistry

20. The Effect of Dietary Antioxidants on Oxidative Stress Markers. What is the relationship between the intake of dietary antioxidants and the levels of oxidative stress markers in human populations?
21. The Role of Trace Elements in Enzymatic Activity. How do trace elements such as zinc, magnesium, and iron influence the activity of specific enzymes?
22. The Correlation Between pH Levels and Protein Stability. How do different pH levels affect the structural stability and functionality of proteins?
23. Trends in Pharmaceutical Contaminants in River Water Supplies. What trends can be observed in the concentration of pharmaceutical contaminants in river water supplies?
24. The Relationship Between Polymer Structure and Mechanical Properties. How does the molecular structure of polymers influence their mechanical properties?
25. The Effectiveness of Different Additives in Enhancing Battery Performance. How do various chemical additives impact the performance and longevity of lithium-ion batteries?
26. The Correlation Between Nanoparticle Size and Catalytic Activity. How does the size of nanoparticles affect their catalytic activity in specific chemical reactions?

Our article on Biology IA topics provides practical advice and suggestions for IB students who want to excel in their Internal Assessments.

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, your success in the IB program depends on your choice of Chemistry IA topic. Whether you decide on an experimental or non-experimental topic, make sure your topic fits the requirements of the IB, your interests, and your available resources. Based on my experience, selecting a well-chosen topic enhances the enjoyment of the research process and results in a more successful end output.

Recall that a good IA also depends on how effectively you do your research and communicate your conclusions. Good luck, make a thoughtful decision, and don’t hesitate to contact our BuyTOKEssay service professionals if you need assistance with the IB curriculum!

Liliana Duman

Liliana Duman has a strong background in teaching English language, having graduated from Hacettepe University’s English Language Teaching Department in 2008. With over two decades of experience in the field, she has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with her students. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Liliana holds a master’s in Teaching Turkish as a Second Language and has previously worked at Başkent and Hacettepe University in Ankara. Currently, she is an EFL instructor at Sakarya University, teaching various skills, including methodology, speaking, reading, writing, and listening. In addition to her teaching, Liliana has also contributed to material development and testing efforts. As well as her work as a teacher, Liliana is an experienced private online ToK essay tutor, providing personal help for both IB ToK students and teachers in all aspects of IB ToK essays and exhibitions. She is dedicated to helping her students succeed and achieve their full potential. In her spare time, Liliana also writes articles for buytokessay.com, sharing her expertise and insights on ToK with a wider audience.