IB Chemistry IA Topics: 25 Ideas and How to Choose One
The best IB Chemistry IA topic is a standard method, such as titration, calorimetry or spectrophotometry, applied to one narrow, measurable question that you can finish safely in the lab time you have. Below you will find 25 ideas grouped by area, a simple way to turn any of them into a research question, and a check against the four assessment criteria. We also explain how the Extended Essay differs.
TL;DR
- Choose a method you already know, then change one variable and measure one outcome.
- Write the question as “How does X affect Y, as measured by Z?” so the variables are clear from the start.
- The IA is worth 20% of your final grade and is marked on four equally weighted criteria. Plan with them in mind.
- Ask your teacher to approve the method and its safety before you begin any practical work.
- The Extended Essay is a different task, with its own criteria and a clear chemical focus.
Table of Contents
- What a strong Chemistry IA topic looks like
- How to turn an idea into a research question
- 25 IB Chemistry IA topic ideas by area
- Keeping it simple, meaningful and safe
- Using the rubric to refine your topic
- Perspective: why topic choice is half the mark
- Build the chemistry behind your IA
- How the Extended Essay differs from the IA
- FAQ
- Sources
What a strong Chemistry IA topic looks like
A good topic is small. Students often pick something impressive, then run out of time to collect enough data. The reverse works better: pick something ordinary and investigate it well.
Marietta City Schools, a US IB school, describes the aim as a specific research question, data-collection methods that are realistic for your time and resources, controlled variables that affect the results, and a method clear enough for someone else to reproduce. That gives you four quick tests for any idea:
- Can I state one independent and one dependent variable?
- Can I measure the dependent variable with equipment my school has?
- Can I control the other factors that might change the result?
- Can I collect enough repeats and a wide enough range of values within my lab time?
If the answer to any of these is no, narrow the idea until it is yes.
How to turn an idea into a research question
The ISB scientific writing guide suggests a format for a focused question: “How does X affect Y, as measured by Z?” It also advises giving the independent variable stated values, or a range wide enough to produce a noticeable change in the dependent variable, and explaining how you measure that dependent variable.
Here is the same idea at three levels of focus:
| Too broad | Better | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C in juice | Vitamin C content of fruit juices | How does storage temperature (4, 20, 35, 50 °C) affect the vitamin C concentration of orange juice, as measured by iodine titration? |
| Reaction rates | Rate of a reaction with acid | How does the concentration of hydrochloric acid (0.5 to 2.0 mol dm⁻³) affect the rate of reaction with magnesium ribbon, as measured by gas volume collected in 60 s? |
| Enthalpy of fuels | Heat from burning alcohols | How does the number of carbon atoms in a primary alcohol affect its enthalpy of combustion, as measured by the temperature change of water in a calorimeter? |
The strong versions name the values, the unit of measurement and the technique. That is exactly what your teacher and moderator look for first.
25 IB Chemistry IA topic ideas by area
These are starting points, not finished questions. Adapt each one to your equipment, then run the four tests above. Always confirm with your teacher that the chemicals and procedure are safe and permitted in your lab.
Kinetics
- Effect of temperature on the rate of reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid
- Effect of catalyst concentration on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
- Effect of surface area of marble chips on the rate of reaction with acid
- Effect of ionic strength on the rate of a reaction between persulfate and iodide ions
- Effect of pH on the fading of a dye such as crystal violet with sodium hydroxide
Acids, bases and equilibria
- Buffer capacity of homemade buffers at different ratios of acid to conjugate base
- Acid content of different fruit juices by titration
- Effect of dilution on the pH of a weak acid
- Effect of temperature on the equilibrium constant of an iron(III) thiocyanate system, measured by colorimetry
- Antacid neutralising capacity by back titration
Energetics
- Enthalpy of combustion across a homologous series of alcohols
- Effect of concentration on the enthalpy of neutralisation
- Enthalpy of solution of different salts at different temperatures
- Comparison of the energy content of different cooking oils
- Effect of insulation design on the accuracy of a simple calorimeter
Electrochemistry
- Effect of electrolyte concentration on the voltage of a voltaic cell
- Effect of metal pairs on cell potential
- Effect of current on the mass of copper deposited during electrolysis
- Effect of temperature on the voltage of a zinc-copper cell
- Comparison of corrosion rates of iron nails in different salt solutions
Organic chemistry and analysis
- Effect of chain length on the rate of esterification
- Concentration of ethanol in a solution using density measurements or a calibration curve
- Absorbance of a coloured complex at different concentrations, using Beer-Lambert relationships
- Effect of heating time on the yield of aspirin synthesis
- Effect of solvent polarity on the retention of dyes in paper chromatography
Notice the pattern. Each idea has one thing you change and one thing you measure. That structure is what lets you process data properly and write a justified conclusion.
Keeping it simple, meaningful and safe
Simple does not mean weak. A well-controlled titration with repeated trials and a thoughtful error analysis can show more skill than an ambitious synthesis with three data points.
A few habits help:
- Pilot first. One quick trial tells you whether your range of values will produce a visible change.
- Pick methods your school already uses. Familiar equipment means fewer surprises.
- Plan the analysis before you collect data. Decide which graph you will draw and which uncertainty you will propagate.
- Think about the quality of your materials. Reagent purity and documentation affect how far you can trust a result. Reading about documented lab testing standards shows what verified purity looks like, and you can mention how your own chemicals were sourced in your evaluation.
- Get safety approved. Your teacher must sign off on hazards and disposal before you begin.
Using the rubric to refine your topic
Marietta City Schools states that the internal assessment is worth 20% of the final IB grade, takes 10 hours, and is assessed on four criteria each worth 25% of the marks: Research design, Data analysis, Conclusion and Evaluation. The American Association of Chemistry Teachers adds that the report is up to 3,000 words, marked by your teacher and externally moderated through a sample sent to IB examiners.
Use each criterion as a test of your topic:
- Research design: is your question focused and your method reproducible, with controls named?
- Data analysis: will you collect enough data to process, graph and attach uncertainties to?
- Conclusion: can your results realistically support a claim you can compare with accepted chemistry?
- Evaluation: will your method have real limitations you can discuss, rather than invented ones?
For a closer look at what each band expects, see our IB Chemistry IA criteria guide and the IA examples that show how those criteria look in finished work.
Perspective: why topic choice is half the mark
We have seen the same pattern many times. Students who struggle with the IA rarely lack ability. They chose a question that could not give them enough data, or one that was too vague to evaluate.
Our materials are written by IB examiners and experienced educators, so we think about topics the way a moderator reads a report. A good topic gives you something to process, something to conclude and something honest to evaluate.
That is why we link everything on Tiber Tutor together. The exam-style questions, notes, videos and progress tracking all point to the same syllabus content. When you know which topics you are strongest in, you can choose an investigation where your understanding is deepest, and write about it with confidence.
Oliver
Build the chemistry behind your IA
A good IA rests on solid core knowledge. If you choose a bonding, kinetics or energetics topic, you need to explain the theory clearly and use it to interpret results. Tiber Tutor gives you IB Chemistry topic questions, topic tests, examiner mark schemes, animated videos, flashcards and detailed notes. Our progress tracking and performance analytics show which syllabus areas need work.
We built the platform to give you the best value for money, with content written by actual IB examiners. The All-Access Plan is $19 per month and the Per-Subject Plan is $9 per month, both after a free 7-day trial. See the plans and pricing or the student page.
How the Extended Essay differs from the IA
Students searching for chemistry EE topics are often comparing the two tasks. They are different pieces of work.
The IBO’s subject-specific guidance says a chemistry EE must have a clear chemical emphasis. The topic can come from the options, the AHL topics or the core, and the research question must be a real question, for example whether spectator ions can influence the rate of an oxidation-reduction reaction. The same guidance expects processed data in tables and graphs, statistical analysis, and a reasoned argument focused on the question.
The EE is about 4,000 words, according to Tates Creek High School, and it is marked on five criteria. A school scoring overview lists them as Focus and method (6), Knowledge and understanding (6), Critical thinking (12), Presentation (4) and Engagement (6), for 34 points in total. Check your school’s current EE guide, as the criteria can be updated.
In short, the IA is a 10-hour practical report. The EE is a longer independent piece of research, with more weight on critical thinking.
FAQ
What is the easiest IB Chemistry IA topic?
There is no single easiest topic, but the safest ones use a method you already know, such as titration or calorimetry. Change one variable, measure one outcome, and collect plenty of repeats. A simple question done carefully can earn strong marks.
How long should the IB Chemistry IA be?
The AACT describes the report as up to 3,000 words and 20% of the final grade. The practical work and write-up are planned around 10 hours of class time. Check your teacher’s schedule for internal deadlines.
Can I use the same topic for the IA and the EE?
The two tasks are assessed separately and have different expectations, so treat them as separate projects. Speak to your IB coordinator and supervisor about your school’s rules before you plan both.
Where can I find IA examples?
Our IB Chemistry IA examples page shows how investigations are structured. Use examples to understand the standard, then develop your own question.
Sources
- MCS IB Chemistry Y2 Unit 3 (Marietta City Schools)
- Research Design, ISB Scientific Writing Guide
- Student Research Opportunities in IB Chemistry, AACT
- IBO Extended Essay subject-specific guidance
- Diploma Programme, Tates Creek High School
- Extended Essay Scoring Overview, Bayan School