Writing a Formal
Chemistry Lab Report
Mr. Byrum
North Sand Mountain High School
Fall 2010
Goals of a Formal Lab
Report
• Present the experiment, including its objectives. Why
was it done? What question did you intend to answer?
• Record the results to sufficient detail that the reader
builds trust in your thoroughness, can reproduce your
data reduction and can draw their own conclusions
about the results.
• Present your evaluation and conclusions from the results
and give enough background and detail that others can
independently evaluate and draw their own conclusions.
Sections of a Lab Report
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Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Materials
Methodoogy
Results
Discussions
References
Title Page Structure
• Title Page –
– Name of your experiment
– Your name
– Other experimentalists’ names
– Class Name
– Date
– Teacher’s Name
– School Name
(Title page is a separate page)
Title Page Example
The Molar Heat of Fusion of Ice
Pete Moss
Partners: Harry Pitts and Shelia Wonderhorse
Chemistry
August 6, 2010
Mr. Byrum
North Sand Mountain High School
Abstract Section
– No lists. Give it in a few complete
sentences
– A brief overview – including a review of
the results and conclusions.
– Remember, most readers of the article
will read only the abstract; therefore, it
must be a concise review of the entire
lab report.
– Do not exceed 120 words.
(Abstract page is a separate page)
Introduction Section
• Introduction
– Why was the experiment run? What was the
purpose?
– Objectives – should be clear so that you know when
they have been met.
– This section should be at least two paragraphs.
Materials Section
• This section will list all of the materials
including chemicals and equipment that
was used to conduct the lab.
• Items should be listed in a bulleted format
for clarity.
• Only capitalize items in the list that are
proper names such as Erlenmeyer and
Tirrill; most chemicals should not be
capitalized.
Materials Section Example
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potassium nitrate
hydrochloric acid
ring stand
burner
wire gauze
Erlenmeyer flask
pipet
Methodology Section
• Experimental method
– Enough detail to permit another to perform the
same experiment.
– Cite the source of the procedure.
– Note any and all changes to published
procedure.
– This section is a step-by-step writing of exactly
what you did in the lab experiment; be sure to
write in passive past tense!
– Remember, “If I were to lose my lab notebook,
I would be able to use your notebook to
conduct the lab again.”
Results Section
• Present results clearly and completely. The
responses to the discussion questions are to be
merged into this text. This is where you might
compare your results with modeling results or
theory.
• Actual data (with units) arranged in tables
• Observations (particularly unexpected ones)
• One set of calculations in complete detail
Discussion Section
• Discussion
• A short wrap-up of what was done, what
you think about it, how it is to be used,
what might be done as a continuation,
what might have been done differently.
• Begin with a statement of results (no
yields!)
• Analyze results in relation to purpose of
experiment and available knowledge
References Section
• References
• Full, accurate citations
• By superscript number or by author
• APA style
Appendices
• Appendices – Appendices hold the details that
only a few of the readers will need. The
important parts of this material should be in the
report body. Don’t expect the reader to read the
appendices.
– Lab notebook
– Sample calculations.
– Other items of interest to only the most interested
reader.
Further Writing Details
• Word-processed, 12 cpi in Times New Roman font, and
double-spaced
• Pages should be printed, single-sided, and numbered
starting with the title page
• Third person, past passive voice (no “I”, “my”, etc.)
• Do not use contractions in a formal report (can’t, didn’t)
• Do not begin sentences with numerals
• PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!
Tables
• Label as: Table 1, Table 2, etc.
• Include a brief self-explanatory title
• Consist of at least 2 columns
• Like objects listed vertically, not horizontally
• Numbers should have decimals vertically in line
• Heading or label with units on each column
• e.g., Mass (g), not just ‘g’ or ‘mass’
Websites for extra help…
• www.apastyle.org – APA style writing
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource
/560/01/ - APA style writing
• http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts
/lab_report_complete.html - Scientific Lab
Report Information
• http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryla
bexperiments/a/labreports.htm - Writing
Lab Reports
Closing Comments
• Start early. Leave time to:
– Research properly before you write.
– Write carefully and thoughtfully. Think of the
reader.
– Ponder, dwell and rewrite.
– Seek and implement comments from others.
Closing Comments (cont.)
• Writing should be:
– Clear.
– Organized and logical.
– Free of excessive jargon and acronyms
specific to your local area (analytical not
narrative) .
– Don’t click and paste.
– Look at the figures. Will they be clear when
reproduced? Is all the information needed to
interpret them included? Avoid reliance on
color – you want black and white copies to be
readable as well.
Closing Comments (cont.)
– Use paragraphs to separate and emphasize thoughts
and concepts.
– Each paragraph has a theme. Is the theme of that
paragraph clear to any reader?
– Write with maximum clarity.
– Do not use contorted text that directs the reader
elsewhere (“discussed in sect. 4.3 and as will be
discussed in sect. 5.8…….”).
– Avoid acronyms and jargon with which some
reviewers may be unfamiliar.
– How knowledgeable are they of your local topic?
– How well will they know the terminology of your local
topic?
Closing Comments (cont.)
• And the most obvious of all:
–Proof read it carefully.
• Proof read it
• Have another who has not
previously read it proof it.
• Spell check it.
• Grammar check it.
Remember!
“If I were to lose my
lab notebook, I would
be able to use your
notebook to conduct
the lab again.”