December 2009
Guidelines for Lab Report: Identifying Chemical Reactions
Your lab report needs to have a title and needs to be organized into the following sections:
Title
Introduction
Material and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
General Comments:
 Keep your writing impersonal; use third person past tense. Avoid using I and We
 Pay attention to grammar and punctuation and divide paragraphs correctly.
Some Suggestions for the Introduction:
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What knowledge already exists about this subject, and what needs to be addressed in
order to understand the rest of the report? Including, but not limited to: Explain &
describe physical vs. chemical properties; indicators of chemical changes (provide
several examples!)
What is a chemical reaction? Explain the five main types of chemical reactions
(combination/synthesis; decomposition; single replacement; double replacement;
combustion). What type of reaction do the chemical reactions in this lab represent?
Define & explain the terms: aqueous solution; soluble; insoluble; precipitate.
State the objectives or purpose of the experiment.
Material and Method:
 This section is to be written in paragraph form – i.e. narrative form
 Briefly describe the experimental procedure and equipment that you used.
Results:
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Table 1: Include the results of the physical properties observed (i.e. the front side
of the lab sheet). This table must include the solution #, the formula of the
compound, the name of the compound, and the physical properties that you
initially observed. (Hence, there should be 4 columns in your data table).
 Table 2: Include the results of each combination (i.e. the back side of the lab
sheet). This table must include the solution # and formula for each of the two
combined; your observations (i.e. smell, precipitate, bubbles, color change, etc.)
(**For the next Day 6, you must only have the above two data tables….The following
results will not be completed until our next lab session!**)
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Write out the full reaction equations for each of the reactions completed. Predict the
products; balance the equation; indicate the state of matter of each compound (Use
Solubility Guidelines to determine which compound is the solid!)
***All data MUST be in table format- with clear rows & columns***
Some suggestions for the Discussion
 Include an interpretation of your results. What indications of change did you see in the
reactions? Explain why the indications that are recorded are evidence of a chemical reaction. (In
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your explanation, be sure to explain, for example, why bubbles/fizzing occurs, what precipitates
are and why they would form, etc.) . Which reactions were similar and why?
What was the unknown solution? How were you able to determine the unknown? Cite specific
examples of matching reactions!
Were the objectives of the experiment met?
References
List all your resources (books used, data tables, web sites consulted) that you used in writing the
introduction and discussion and cite your references using the APA guidelines. Remember, three sources
are required.