Lab Report Format 1

LAB REPORT FORMAT

Your lab report should contain the following sections in order and labeled:
Title
Source
Name
Partner
Date
Purpose
Describe in 1-3 complete sentences the reason for performing the experiment and what knowledge you
expect to gain from it.
Chemical Reaction
Materials and Apparatus
Safety Considerations
Procedure
List step-by-step what you did in your experiment. Include any times you deviated from the given
procedure.
Data/Observations
Include a list of five qualitative observations. Include data tables with quantitative information you
gathered in lab. Remember to use correct significant figures for all measurements and include units.
Calculations
Show all calculations with equations and full solutions. Describe your calculations in words to show
what is being determined. Remember to use correct significant figures and units.
Discussion
Background theory and information
Explain any theory related to the experiment including definitions, relative scales, derivations,
equations, and example problems. Must be cited in APA format.
Error Analysis
Lab Report Format 2

Discuss at least five specific sources of error for your experiment and the effect these errors have on
your final results. Include statistical analysis such as deviation tables and percent error. Discuss any
outliers and how you dealt with them. Do not use the words may have, might have, or could
have.
Results/Conclusions
Answer your purpose. Include your percent error or deviation and evaluate your performance. Make a
prediction based on your results. Suggest improvements in the lab procedure for the future. Discuss
anything of importance that you learned by completing the experiment.
Citations
List alphabetically by authors last name.
Double space.
First word of entry is on left. All subsequent lines are indented by one tab.


Book: Authors last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title. Publishing city: Publishing company.
Journal: Authors last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Name of Journal or
Magazine, volume or edition number, journal or magazine number. Page numbers.
Website: Authors last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of article or page. Sponsor of
page. Retrieved from Complete web address.
More than one author: Abbott, J. A., Carmichael, A., & Kingston, M. P.