General Assessment Information:
COMPONENTS OF LABORATORY REPORTS
Laboratory Report Cover Sheet. This sheet is used to maintain our database.
Title Page. Includes report title, author(s), date, course and report number.
Abstract . Briefly (3-4 sentences maximum) explain the goal of the experiment, state the basic experimental technique and give the conclusions of the experiment. (For example, you might state the values of measured rate constants, the chemical reaction to which the values apply, an assessment of the amount of error in the values, and a brief description of the method used to measure the values.) The abstract of a scientific report is a stand-alone summary; information in the abstract will be repeated and expanded in the report body.
Background/Introduction. The purpose of the work and any background information pertinent to the present study should be presented here. This section should be sketched out before you actually begin the lab, as part of your plan of procedure.
The background should include a review of prior experimental results (at FSU or in the literature) and a discussion of relevant theoretical principles behind your experiment (including appropriate equations). Even when prior results disagree with the results to be presented, they should be discussed. Equations should not be derived in this section, but a source for a derivation of the equation should be clearly referenced. Chemical reaction equation(s) should be shown here.
The background should include a statement of your planned experiment and the theory behind your experiment. For example, the following sorts of discussions/citations may be appropriate:
According to Aileen Rottweiler the reaction being considered follows a first order rate law under the chosen conditions. (1) The integrated form of a first order rate equation (2) is given in Equation (1),
1) ln [A] = -kt + ln [Ao]
where [A] denotes the concentration of blubarium, k is the rate constant and t is time. Equation (1) is a linear equation that presents ln [A] as a function of time; a plot of ln [A] versus t should yield -k as the slope...
Bibliography
1. Aileen Rottweiler, "Kinetics of Decomposition of Blubarium," Physical Chemistry Lab Report 4, 1996.
2. Florence T. Hornswaggle, Principles of Physical Chemistry, 4th edition. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1947.
Experimental details. Concisely explain the procedure actually used during the experiment. A subsequent worker should be able to reproduce the experiment from your report. This section differs from the notebook entries because repetitive measurements and dead-ends are summarized rather than written in detail. Pertinent details are also organized for logical flow rather than sequentially, as they would be in the notebook. Include the names and brands of all instruments, equipment, software, computers (for calculational experiments) and chemicals. Include, and justify, all deviations from, and additions to, the procedure given out by the instructor or used by previous workers.
Calculations and Error analysis. Include a written-out sample of each calculation, even when the calculation was actually performed in a spreadsheet. Write the equation being used first, and then plug the numbers in. The purpose of this is to show the reader what the spreadsheet was doing and to allow for the propagation of error through the calculations. Error propagation is addressed in the Instrumental Analysis textbook and will also be addressed in Chemistry 301.
Before you can propagate uncertainties or errors, you must critically evaluate how much error or uncertainty is present in your raw data. Discuss in the report all expected sources of error for each measured quantity and realistically estimate the amount of uncertainty each source provides. Explain how you arrived at your estimated values.
How much uncertainty do your results have? Propagate your uncertainties through your calculations. You should also report uncertainties in values obtained from parameters in curve fit equations (e.g., slope and intercept for a linear plot.) Make sure that all numbers (both data and results) are accompanied by error bars (±uncertainty).
Data, Results and Discussion. Present compiled primary data and the results calculated from them, preferably in tables. Pages of raw numbers from a spreadsheet are not necessary, but the descriptive headings and first entries from a large amount of spreadsheet data should be included as a table. A separate table of results (with corresponding uncertainties and an appropriate number of significant figures) should be provided.
Each table and graph should be descriptively labeled, numbered in the order of discussion in the text, and referred to (by page number and title or graph number) in the discussion. If you don't discuss a table or graph, it's not clear why it is being included! For example, for each graph, include the equation that describes the plot, and explain what information has been obtained from the plot.
Notes about particular data points should be discussed in the text and given as footnotes to tables or graphs. For example, a symbol such as " * " might appear beside certain data points in a graph or table. Below the table, the following type of statement would be included:
* These points were obtained with a water blank, instead of a methanol blank.
Finally, identify the information that was sought in the experiment and finish with definite and concise conclusions!!! Where possible, compare your results to previous workers' values, and discuss differences. Be sure to give appropriate citations to previous work, including student lab reports.
Procedure analysis. Was your procedure adequate? If not, what would you change if you were to do this experiment again? Are there any improvements you could suggest for future chemists working on this experiment?
Bibliography. Include a list of references in standard format at the end of the narrative section.
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