February 2025

Common metals and their uses

By |2025-02-12T09:24:03+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Copper wires. Image credit globalminingobserver.com Copper wires. Image credit globalminingobserver.com ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Common metals and their uses

  • Common metals include:
  • aluminium
  • iron and
  • copper

Copper

  • is a soft, malleable and ductile metal with very high heat and electrical conductivity
  • has a reddish-orange color
  • It is used in thermostat, in electrical wiring
  • It is also […]
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The reduction process

By |2025-02-12T09:43:27+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes:  The reduction process

  • Reduction is the opposite of oxidation
  • Reduction is the removal of oxygen from a substance/compound
  • It can also be the addition of oxygen

The reduction of copper. Image credit chemistrydemos.co.uk The reduction of copper.

  • reducing agent removes oxygen or adds hydrogen
  • Metals cannot be […]
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Experiment: Making salt:copper sulphate

By |2025-02-12T09:11:09+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: Making salt:copper sulphate

Materials: Making a salt, copper sulphate

Materials: copper oxide, dilute sulphuric acid, plastic beaker, evaporating dish, filter funnel, filter paper, stirring rod, spatula/plastic teaspoon

Making copper sulphate Making copper sulphate

Method

  1. Pour 20cm3 dilute sulphuric acid into a beaker
  2. Add a small spatula load of copper oxide and […]
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Experiment: The flotation cell

By |2025-02-12T09:28:07+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

The purification of copper using the flotation cell The purification of copper using the flotation cell ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes:Experiment: The flotation cell

Aim:  To make a copper flotation cell

Materials: basin of water, mixture of sand and powdered copper sulphide, washing powder/dish washing liquid,litmus paper, rubber tube, filter funnel, tray, wooden […]

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Experiment: Electrolysis of water

By |2025-02-12T09:41:56+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Apparatus used in the electrolysis of water. Image credit youtube.com Apparatus used in the electrolysis of water. Image credit youtube.com ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: Electrolysis of water

Aim: To produce hydrogen gas using the electrolysis of water

Materials: beaker, test tubes, carbon electrodes, water, concentrated sulphuric acid, battery/8-12v power supply, connecting […]

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Experiment: Distillation of alcohol

By |2025-02-12T09:08:51+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Distillation of alcohol. Image credit bbc.co,uk Distillation of alcohol. Image credit bbc.co,uk ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: The distillation of ethanol

Aim: To concentrate alcohol using the distillation process

Materials: thermometer, clamp stands, rubber bungs, round bottomed flask, fractionating column. condenser with rubber tubing, watch-glass or tin lid, porcelain chips or clean dry sand

    […]
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Current electricity

By |2025-02-12T09:22:50+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

A simple circuit diagram A simple circuit diagram ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Current electricity

  • When electricity flows from one point to another through a conductor this is known as electric current
  • Electric current when electricity flows from one point to another through a conductor
  • If an electric cell is used
  • […]

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Cells in a series

By |2025-02-12T09:39:03+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Cells in series Cells in series ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Cells in a series

  • As already discussed cells give a voltage of around 1.5 V -2V
  • A lot of appliances required a higher voltage to function
  • Several cells can be joined together to giver larger voltages
  • This can be […]
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Fleming’s Left hand rule

By |2025-02-12T09:04:40+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Fleming's right hand rule Fleming’s right hand rule ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Fleming’s Left hand rule

  • The direction in which a coil turns in influenced by the following factors:
  • the direction in which the current is flowing
  • the magnetic field
  • The direction of movement of a current carrying wire […]
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Joining trusses

By |2025-02-12T09:19:50+02:00February 12th, 2025|Notes, O Level Science Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Gang nails on a wooden truss. Gang nails on a wooden truss. Image credit naildesignart.biz ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes:Joining trusses

  • In the real world various techniques are used to join trusses in ways that prevent joints from becoming points of weakness
  • Steel trusses are usually joined by welding […]
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