Grading the Soap and Biodiesel Report:
Title Page/ 0.1
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Authors
Section
LAs
Professor
Abstract/0.3
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One or two paragraphs
Summary of Experiment (about 1 paragraphs)
o Goal of the research
i. Do not use “the purpose of this lab..”
o Method used
ii. This should be an overall description only salient points
o Results obtained
o Conclusion and implications of results
Introduction /0.8
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Suggested readings (papers) have lots of information that would be
useful in an introduction)
Discussion of soap of biodiesel
o History and use of soap and biodiesel
o Chemistry of soap and biodiesel which makes them important
chemicals
o What are the important properties of the compounds which can be
tested
o A discussion of the project the group decided to address
i. Why this is important
ii. Discuss any expectations
Procedure / 0.3
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What and how things were done
Should be concise and accurate;
o Eg. No need to mention how dilutions were done. It will be
assumed that they know how to do this.
o No need to say glassware was collected or anything like that.
These will be assumed
Describe synthetic methods
Describe analytical methods
Results and calculations /0.3
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Some data are best presented in tables. These should be referred to in
the text.
o Tables and graphs should be properly labeled
o All tables and graphs should be placed into the text and be
sufficiently discussed
Every table must have a brief title that describes its contents.
Every column must have a heading that describes the material
below it.
o Graphs do no have to fill a page but should be of a size that is
easily read.
Calculations
o Example of calculations
o Proper use of significant figures
o All number should be reported with the associated units
o
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Discussion and answers to questions / 1.4
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In your discussion include chemical principles which you have learnt in
lectures
o Organic reactions
$why was NaOH used as a catalyst
o Inter molecular force (IMF). How does it apply to
$chromatography
$viscosity
$properties of
 soap – eg micelle formation
 biodiesel
 oil and fats
o Calorimetry
$How was it used?
A general discussion of the synthesis of the soap and biodiesel – two
sides of the same coin. Chemical equations would help here
o How are the reactions similar
o How are the reactions different
o What are the roles of the reactants in the synthesis
What are the chemical principles being used
Discuss the results you obtained for synthesis and analysis of you soap
(0.7)
o Did the synthesis work? Did you have to change anything in your
method to get it to work?
o If you did replicate synthesis or analysis was the results essentially
the same or in what way did they differ
o How did your soap compare to others in your lab?
 students using the same oil
 students using a different oil
 was any oil better for making soap
o Discuss the results of the analysis of soap
$here would be a good place to incorporate answers to the
question in the lab manual (0.4)
Discuss the results of the biodiesel synthesis and analysis in light of the
research question (0.7)
o Did you make biodiesel?
o Discuss what led you to conclude this
How does biodiesel compare to the starting material? How is it
different?
Discuss anything else that you could do to clarify an results or improve
on your experiments
(time, money, etc) allowed.
o
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Conclusion / 0.2
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Summarize the answer to the question asked and any implication of the
conclusion. Did you confirm your hypothesis or did you refute it?
References / 0.2
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At least five properly cited and referred to in the body of the paper. The
majority of the references should be from peer-reviewed journals
Subjective points / Style / 0.4
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Good English and the over all tone of the report
Does the report flows?