Baking Soda Vinegar Lab Write-up Guide
Underlined sections below will be the titles of sections in your lab report.
Title: (YOUR TITLE should include both independent and dependent variables) HINT: This is
NOT the title seen above.
Purpose: Explain what you are trying to find out or accomplish through this investigation AND why. Use
answers to these questions to help explain what you think your outcome will be.
● What are we trying to figure out in this lab?
● Why would anyone want to know this?
Identification of Variables:
● Independent Variable: (The variable decided on before the experiment starts.)
● Dependent Variable: (The measured results.)
● Constants: (Items that remain the same.)
Hypothesis: If (describe the independent variable), then (predict the dependent variable), because (give
scientific reasoning).
Materials:
- 250 mL of vinegar
- 1.5 g of baking soda
- 25 mL graduated cylinder
- Electronic Balance
- 400 mL beaker
- Weighing paper
Procedure:
1. Use a weighing paper and balance to measure 0.2 g of baking soda
2. Use a graduated cylinder to measure 25.0 mL of vinegar and pour it into the 400 mL beaker
3. Start a timer, pour the baking soda into the vinegar and record the time when bubbles stop forming.
Do not stir the mixture. Record your observations in the Qualitative Data section of the lab.
4. Dump the resulting solution down the drain and rinse the beaker.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 two more times for a total of 3 trials.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 with 0.5 g of baking soda.
7. Repeat steps 1-5 with 0.8 g of baking soda.
Safety concerns: Note any major or minor safety concerns. Also discuss if there are no safety concerns to show
that you have thought this through.
Data Table: (This table only contains collected data)
Grams of Baking
Trial 1
Trial 2
Soda
Time (seconds)
Time (seconds)
Trial 3
Time (seconds)
0.5
1.0
1.5
Qualitative data: Include observations and other information that would affect the outcome of the lab.
Calculations: You must show at least one example for each type of calculation. Include any formulas that were
used.
Data Table 2: Averages (Calculated data)
Grams of
Baking Soda
Average of 3
Trials (sec)
0.5
1.0
1.5
Graph your data: Graphs should visually show trends in the averaged data. Include clear title and labels!
➢ You should have error bars on averages (showing the range of max/min)
➢ Scale must be appropriate
➢ Labels and units on each axis
➢ Title: IV and the DV of the system
Analysis: Discuss your data --- talk your way through it. Make numerical references to your data.
Explain WHY you got the results you did – this should be based on scientific reasoning found in background
research. Use your vocabulary!!
Interpret the data and explain the results. Discuss trends, maximums, minimums, possible
outliers, and discuss why these may have happened the way they did.
Conclusion: Accurately interpret data and explain results using correct scientific reasoning. Evaluate the
validity of the hypothesis AND the validity of the method (procedure) based on the outcome of the
investigation. Here’s how you do that:
□ Briefly recount what your purpose was and how you set about accomplishing that goal (procedure).
□ Analyze whether or not your hypothesis was supported by your data, evaluating why that is the case.
□ Discuss the limitations of the procedure – discuss both the weaknesses in the procedure and the sources of
measurement error in the experiment.
□ Give a conclusion summary statement - This is a short statement of the overall results of the experiment.
Improvements and Extensions: Explain improvements or extensions to the procedure that would benefit the
investigation. What would you change if you redid this experiment?