NOTEBOOKS AND REPORTS
Notebooks
You are expected to write down your observations and your experimental data in
the special "Laboratory Research Notebook", which is purchased at the Chemistry
Department Stockroom. This notebook contains recycled carbonless paper so that your
entries will be made in duplicate. The duplicate yellow pages are turned in at the end of
each laboratory period. The quad-ruled pages are convenient because they make it easy to
construct tables, draw graphs, make sketches, and maintain a neat record. You will need
to start with a fresh page each laboratory period and on each page your name and the date
should be given. Scientific notebooks are legal records of your experimental work. As
such, the following additional "rules" should be followed:
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Always record data directly into notebook
Always write in pen
Never use "white out"
Never tear "original" (white) pages from notebook
If a mistake is made, draw a single line through the data and indicate why
this data is not being considered
Laboratory time is precious and it should not be squandered in trying to figure out
what the experiment is all about after coming to the laboratory. By studying over the
experiment in advance you will not only have a better idea of how to use your time
efficiently in the lab, but you can also set up a logical format for the collection of data.
This might often consist of making simple tables. Nearly everyone makes mistakes, and
it is common that additional samples must be weighed out or extra runs be made, etc., so
ample room and allowance should be made for this sort of thing in advance. When tables
are made, it is often useful to think ahead and to include columns for calculated quantities
that will be derived from your data. You should never record data, such as weight
measurements, on scraps of paper for later transcription into your notebook; inevitably
some of these scraps get lost or errors are made in transcription. The laboratory
instructors reserve the right to confiscate scraps of paper containing data. The example of
a notebook page on page 7 illustrates many of the foregoing suggestions.
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Reports
In order that your work can be evaluated you will hand in the report sheet
appearing at the end of each experiment within a specified time after the completion of
the experiment. Usually you will be asked to show a sample calculation so that the
person who checks your work can tell whether, in the case of poor results, this is a
consequence of experimental errors or computational errors. A discussion of laboratory
measurements, including significant figures, standard deviation, and statements about the
reliability of the average value of experimental results, is given on pp. 29-41. For most
experiments you will be asked to apply these concepts to your results and always to
record and report your data to the proper number of significant figures.
Frequently students make serious errors in converting data into results to be
reported. In these cases your report sheet may be returned to you for recalculation some
time after the experiment has been completed. It is essential therefore that you are able to
obtain from your notebook a good idea of what you did in the lab and how you calculated
your results. You should prepare your notebook in such a way that you could return to it
after you have forgotten the details of an experiment and easily fill out a new report sheet.
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Helpful Hint: Pre-lab Worksheets
The lab manual provides detailed explanations of the chemistry and
procedures for each experiment. In order to help you prepare for the lab
(and the webquiz), you may find it helpful to summarize the important points
in "bullet" form. A partially completed, sample pre-lab worksheet for the
calibration experiment is shown below. If you choose to create such
outlines for other experiments, they can be written in your lab notebook or
added to your lab manual as you prefer. Alternatively, you may find it
useful to highlight procedural steps and calculational steps in different
colors.
Pre-Lab Worksheet
Calibration of Volumetric Equipment
Goals:
To determine the accurate volume of my buret and volumetric pipet and calibrate my
thermometer.
Safety Concerns:
There are no hazardous materials used in this experiment
Procedures:
 clean glassware needed, prepare water
 calibrate thermometer by recording temperature in constant temperature bath
 calibrate buret
- leak test
- deliver 25 mL, 35 mL, 45 mL and weigh water delivered
- take temperature of each run
 calibrate pipet
Sample Calculations:
 thermometer
correction = TT - TO
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Set-up the calculations using variables,
and then substitute your data in at the
end to determine your results.
buret
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