College Chemistry: Eizenga

Lab Notebooks are NOT final experimental reports.  They are informal and can get messy because experiments often do not proceed as you thought they would.  You never know quite what will or won't work so you write it ALL down.  

Lab Notebooks are expected to:

For Exp 1: Basic Measurement (5pts)

• be LEGIBLE - if I can't read it you will be asked to rewrite the lab
• be written in Pen - typically black or blue ink
• have a Table of Contents - leave several pages at the start for this
• have Page Numbers - do this as soon as you get your notebook
• only have Writing on the right page when it is open (the left page has a different purpose)
• Under the  Title of experiment, put the "Goal" of the experiment (or put the goals of that part if the lab has parts) - summarize what you are trying to do/learn

For Exp 2: Sugar in Beverages, add these expectations: (5pts)

• ALL numbers have units (in a table the units may be in the heading)
• whenever possible data should be put into tables with rows & columns labeled
• calculations are shown, with labels & correct significant digits
  (a single example calculation can be shown for repeated calculations)
• graphs should have: descriptive title, labeled axis, independant variable on horizontal axis
• graphs are printed and taped (not stapled or simply placed) on the left side of appropriated pages with references to them
• multiple graphs have a method of identifying them (for example: graph 1, 2 etc)

For Exp 3: CO₂ in Soda (5pts)

• corrections/errors have a strike-through line but still legible with initials - add reason if helpful
• each page is signed & dated in the lower right corner
• procedures are written with enough detail to follow what was done, but assume it is read by another chemist
• Use appropriate vocabulary - equipment & procedure names
• evaluative comments are OK - keep it professional

For Exp 4: Stoichiometry (5pts)

• procedures are written in: 3rd person, passive voice
• never I, or we
• write as if you were watching it take place
• NOT THIS:  I weighed the copper.
• THIS: The mass of the copper was found by placing it into a tared crucible

For Exp 7: Aluminum Can (5pts)

• Evaluation of errors 
• DON'T blame poor lab technique or equipment - for example: "The balance could be off"  "We should do more trials"  "I should've read the graduated cylinder more carefully"
• DO think about assumptions in the procedure that may have not really been true.
• DO think about behavior of the substances that might affect the results - evaporation, dissolving, incomplete reactions, etc.