Name __________________________________________ Period _______ Date ________
Writing a Lab for a Chemistry Experiment
Introduction: In this activity, you and your table will design the proper steps for identifying an unknown
substance as an acid or a base. You will also identify safety procedures to be followed. Once your plan is
approved, you will conduct the experiment to try and identify some unknown solutions as acids or bases.
Your Directions:
1. Identify the materials you need for this lab.
2. Identify the safety procedures that should be followed for this lab. Use your safety contract to help you.
3. Describe the directions that should be followed for this lab and what type of data should be collected
when testing three different substances.
4. Get approval from your teacher.
5. Conduct the experiments as described in your directions, collect data, and form conclusions.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Create a descriptive title for your experiment: __________________________________________________
Problem: How can an unknown liquid be identified as an acid, a base, or a neutral substance?
Background Information: Acids and bases are special classes of compounds that have their own unique
characteristics. Acids are _______________tasting, have H+ ions, turn blue litmus paper _____________, and
they react with ____________. Bases have a ____________ taste, feel slippery, have OH- ions, and turn red
litmus paper ____________.
Materials: What materials do you need to complete this lab?
Safety Warnings: Use your safety contract to help you.
Procedures –what are the steps you need to follow to correctly identify an unknown substance as an acid or
base?
Data –what information will you collect about the three substances? Organize a chart to put the data into.
Conclusion Statement: Following the actual performance of the lab, write a one paragraph summary about
a. What you did in this lab.
b. How you performed this lab (a summary)
c. What you learned as a result of performing this lab.
A formally typed or very neatly handwritten lab (ON A SEPARATE PAPER!) is due on ______________________
It must include the following (40 points total possible): (LABEL EACH SECTION WITH THE APPROPRIATE TITLE)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Title of the lab (2 points)
Problem: describe the problem that will be solved in this lab (2 points)
Background information: one paragraph with facts about acids and bases (5 points)
Safety warnings: bulleted list of safety rules to be followed (5 points)
Materials list: bulleted list of all materials needed for the lab (2 points)
Procedures: step by step instructions (2 points)
Data: Include your table and FILL IN THE RESULTS you collected when you tested the materials (10
points)
8. Conclusion: A one paragraph summary of what you did, how you did it, and what you learned. (10
points)
9. Spelling, grammar, and overall neatness will be graded as well (2 points)
*Include your name at the top.
Category
Score
Title
Section clearly identified as the title.
Identifies the lab being performed.
2 points
Title not clearly identified and/or not
descriptive of the lab being performed.
1 point
Title is missing
0 points
Problem
Section clearly identified as the problem.
Clearly states the problem being solved
in this lab.
2 points
Problem not clearly identified and/or
does not clearly state the problem
being solved in this lab.
1 point
Problem is missing
0 points
Background
Information
Section clearly identified as background
information. One full paragraph (5-7
sentences) provides the reader with facts
about acids, bases, and identifying them.
5 points
Background information not clearly
identified and/or information is only
partially presented in a paragraph.
3 points
Background
information is
missing
0 points
Safety
Warnings
Section clearly identified as safety
warnings. Bulleted list of safety rules to
be followed is included.
5 points
Section not clearly identified and/or
contains only a partial list of safety
warnings.
3 or 1 points
Safety warnings are
missing.
0 points
Materials
Section clearly identified as materials. A
full list of materials needed for the lab is
included.
2 points
Section not clearly identified and/or
contains only a partial list of materials
needed.
1 point
Materials list is
missing.
0 points
Procedures
Section clearly identified as procedures.
Clear, step by step instructions guide the
scientist through the complete lab.
2 points
Section not clearly identified and/or
contains only a partial list or poorly
described steps for the lab.
1 point
Procedures are
missing.
0 points
Data
Section clearly identified as data. Neatly
organized table is well labeled, and filled
in with the results from the testing of
three unknown substances.
10 points
Section is not clearly identified and/or
is poorly organized or labeled. Data is
not completely filled in with results
from the lab.
7 5 or 3 points
Data is missing
0 points
Conclusion
Section is clearly identified as conclusion.
A full (5-7 sentences) paragraph clearly
explains what you did in this lab, how
you did it, and what you learned.
10 points
Section is not clearly identified and/or
is insufficiently written. (too short,
missing information, incorrect
information)
7 5 or 3 points
Conclusion is missing
Lab report is disorganized, messy,
and/or contains minor spelling or
grammar mistakes.
1 point
Lab report needed
more time and effort
put into
organization, proofreading, and overall
presentation.
0 points
Structure
Overall, lab is neatly presented, well
organized, no grammar or spelling
mistakes.
2 points
Total points earned out of 40: _________________