How to Format Your Lab Reports and Book Part 1 Handouts 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 2.1, 2.2, & 3

Why use lab instructions Labs in chemistry are like learning to cook for the first time. You need a cook book to learn to cook. The lab manual has the same purpose as a good cook book.

Format Overview Title Purpose Introduction/Method Procedure & observations Data tables Results Table Evaluation of the results, error analysis, results statement

Common template What your lab report should look like! Exp. #, Title, date Name Purpose Introduction Pre-lab questions Data tables Evaluation of results or results summary and error analysis Graphs Post lab questions Calculations Results tables Procedure Observation and Raw Data

What you need before you come to lab A pen Your lab book-NO LAB BOOK, NO WORK IN LAB-Yes! You get a zero for that lab. Your pre-lab done: Every lab has a sheet that presents information about the lab. These are found on the website (not MOODLE), and done neatly

Title of lab & Experiment # Partner’s name Purpose Procedure Your pre-lab-Don’t do it during lunch! Handout 1b) basic blank lab, no data Name Title of lab & Experiment # Partner’s name Purpose Procedure

Pre-lab Exp. 2 Read Exp. 2 and the pre-lab handout for Exp. 2 What is presented in the pre-lab that is different from the instructions? What results to you hope to obtain? Are there parts of the format that you can skip for this lab?

How to write a purpose What you will accomplish by doing the lab? Should reflect something about the title of the lab. Be careful: sometimes the title on the experiment is NOT a good title for the lab (hint: Exp. 2 has an improper title!!)

Exp. 11 (An example) I will observe and perform five reactions involving copper metal or copper compounds. The purpose of this lab is to recover as much copper metal as possible at the end of the experiment

Assignment 1: Evaluating purposes for Exp. 2 What to do??? 1) Read Exp. 2 carefully 2) Read the Assignment for evaluating a purpose. 3) Follow the instructions on the handout.

Assignment 1: Evaluating purposes for Exp. 2, continued You are going to evaluate 12 purposes that could be used in the report for Exp. 2. These purposes will help you write your own purpose for Exp. 2 Some of these purposes are really, really awful. Two are really good. You get to use one of the purposes for Exp. 2. CHOOSE WISELY

How to write a Introduction/Method Look at the pre-lab sheet given for each lab. The sheet has information about the introduction. The information should be in the introduction that you write. Read the lab instructions and take notes. This will help you write the purpose, method, and procedure

Introduction/Method cont’d Description of what you hope to accomplish in the lab and how. Is often a summary of the procedure, but not as detailed as the procedure. Can contain keywords and concepts from lecture. Should contain any reactions or mathematical expressions used in the lab

How to write a procedure The procedure is written on the left hand column of your lab book. Since you are doing this section at home, the procedure, (and the rest of the pre-lab) should be easy to read, and neat. The procedure should by clear enough so that another student can follow it if needed. Space the procedural points so that at least 1 line separates them.

Procedure You are writing an outline of the instructions. Summarize when possible; use your own words. DO NOT COPY THE PROCEDURE AND TAPE IT TO YOUR BOOK! I know, it is tempting and would seem to save time, but students who use this method, rarely understand what they are doing in lab.

Observation and Data Collection Section Data and observations line up with the steps of the procedure. Data/observations are written in INK. Do not write on a separate sheet to be copied into the lab book later-TRUST ME, YOU WILL LOSE THAT PAPER. A good rule of thumb-WRITE IT DOWN AS SOON AS YOU OBSERVE SOMETHING. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW QUICKLY YOU WILL FORGET EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS

More on data/observation You can put notes to yourself in this area if it helps you with the lab. Data goes in the lab book BEFORE you leave the lab room. When you make a mistake, draw a single line through the error, initial and date it. Although the handout shows complete sentences, you can write observations using bulleted notes.

Even more notes???-Yes!! Yes! This section is important because it is where you are collecting information. No balanced equations in this section-you can’t observe a balanced equation! No calculations, unless I say it is okay (rarely happens!) Pictures of your apparatus go here too! You can take a picture with your cell phone. The apparatus should be something recognizable. (No Picasso, Dali, Miro, or Impressionist works)

How to format data tables I provide models of data tables to help you. Sometimes data tables record observations only. Sometimes data tables record data only. Read the lab; this will help YOU determine what type of data you are looking for. USE A RULER-make it neat, units and sig figs count

Calculations Calculations should be easy to follow. I like keeping the data of each trial together, but some students like doing all the masses, then the volumes, etc. It is up to you, but in the end, I or a perfect stranger should be able to follow your work.

Calculations It is easier for you to plan you results table if your calculation section is well organized. You might want to consider ordering the calculation section by the “Parts” of the lab You show set up for each calculation, units, and sig figs.

How to format results tables Results tables can be used to summarize observations and draw conclusions from those observations. (balanced equations would go here) If the results calculations based, final results of the calculations go in the results table. For example, the result for the calculation of a volume difference would not go here, but the density of the object would.