Sample Lab Report
Learning Objective:
I can create a valid scientific experiment.
I can write a proper lab report.
I can carry out my own experiment by following my procedure.
Directions:
Below is an example of a lab report that resulted from students designing and performing an experiment based on the
information above. Use this sample to develop your own lab report.
Note: You can bullet point everything EXCEPT the conclusion. The conclusion should be written in paragraph form.
TITLE: Should be interesting and tell what your experiment is about.
The Effect of Water Temperature on the Dissolving Time of Effervescent Tablets
INTRODUCTION:
This should all be included all three parts:
RATIONALE:
Why did you conduct the experiment? (In a broad sense, why is this experiment needed? Why should people care that
you’re doing this?)
Some over-the-counter drugs are effervescent tablets that must be dissolved in water before ingestion. Directions do not
include specific water temperatures.
PURPOSE:
What did you hope to learn? (This is your PURPOSE.)
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of water temperature on the time required for effervescent
tablets to dissolve.
HYPOTHESIS:
What did you think would happen? (This is your HYPOTHESIS—written in if, then format.)
The researcher hypothesized that if the temperature of the water is increased, then effervescent tablets will dissolve
faster.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
List IV, DV, Control, Constants
IV(What you’re testing):
Temp. of Water
DV(What changes/what you measure as a result of your IV):
Time to Dissolve (sec)
Control(not exposed to IV):
Room temp. water
Constants(what remains the same—you should list as many as you can think of):
Brand of tablet (Alka-Seltzer)
Amount of water (75 mL)
No Stirring
Type of Cup
Etc.
MATERIALS: (Be SPECIFIC!!!)
Include amounts, brands, etc.
 One 500mL glass beaker
 4 Thermometers(Celcius)
SAFETY CONCERNS: Think outside of the box. If there was a lawyer in the room during your experiment, what precautions
should you exercise to avoid a lawsuit?
 Goggles should be worn when using glassware or hot liquids.
 Wear gloves when handling hot liquids to avoid burns.
 If glassware breaks or a spill happens, notify teacher immediately. Do not touch broken glass.
PROCEDURE:
A list of EVERY step necessary to carry out the investigation. Someone should be able to carry out the investigation from reading
your procedure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Place one Alka-Seltzer brand tablet in a plastic cup containing 75 ml of cold water.
Record the amount of time, in seconds, it takes the tablet to completely dissolve.
Repeat steps 1 & 2 five times. Record on table 1.
Repeat steps 1 – 3 with room temperature water. Record on table 1.
Repeat steps 1 – 3 with hot water. Record on table 1.
Calculate the mean (average) dissolving at each temperature. Record on table 1.
RESULTS(Include graphs and data tables. PROPERLY LABEL EACH!):
Figure 1. Data Table
Temperature of
Water
Ice
Room
Hot
Time to dissolve (sec)
Trials
1
2
3
4
98
104
107
96
43
35
46
46
24
27
19
19
Average time to
dissolve (sec)
5
105
30
27
102
40
23
Figure 2. Bar Graph
) 125
c
e
(s 100
e
v
l
o
s 75
s
i
d
50
to
e
im 25
T
0
Ice
Room
Hot
W ater Temperature
CONCLUSION(Written in this same order and in paragraph form):
The conclusion requires a thinking process that involves both the analysis of data and the discovery of relationships. Below you
will find an organization framework for guiding this though process.
 What is the purpose of the experiment?
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of water temperature on the dissolving time of Alka-Seltzer
tablets.


What were the major findings? NOTE: Please notice that the researcher DID NOT just restate the data. He found the
general relationship between the temperature of the water and the dissolving time.
How does your data from the experiment support your findings? Data was referenced during interpretation(support with
evidence!)
At higher temperatures, Alka-Seltzer tablets dissolved faster. In the ice, dissolve time averaged 102 seconds and as the
water heated up, the dissolve time decreased to 40 seconds at room temperature and 20 seconds in hot water.
For each rise in temperature, dissolving time was reduced. …(you would continue your explanation here)

Was the research hypothesis supported by the data? NOTE: A hypothesis is not proved or disproved by a single
experiment. The data either supports or fails to support the hypothesis.
The data supported the research hypothesis that Alka-Seltzer tablets would dissolve faster in warm water than in cold
water.

What possible explanations can you offer for the findings/results? Why did they happen?
Because molecules move faster in warm water, they would strike the tablet more frequently and tear it apart more
quickly.

What recommendations do you have for further study and for improving the experiment?
Additional experiments could be conducted to determine the dissolving rate of other brands of tablets. The experiment
could be improved by insulating the cups to reduce heat exchange with the room.