CHEM&161 LAB NOTEBOOK GUIDELINE

GENERAL GUIDELINE
1. Write name on the cover
2. A table of contents (on the first page)
Experiment number
Experiment title
Page
Instructors Initials

Throughout the lab notebook:

3. Write in non-erasable ink
4. Number each page
5. Put a date on each page.
If you continue on the same page on another day, put the date and your
initials in the margin.
6. VOID any empty space > 3 lines:
Draw a single diagonal line from top left to bottom right, write VOID +
date + your initials on the line
7. Present all data and results in tables
8. Label tables
9. Numbers must have units

PRE-LAB: 5 points
1. Experiment title:
as stated in the Table of Content
2. Date of experiment
3. Reference
CHEM&161 Lab procedure
4. Purpose:
keep it short (one sentence)
o Why (what you are trying to accomplish)
o How (how you are going to achieve it)
5. Introduction:
Describe in details the theory/theories that will be used
Chemical reactions
o Not everything will be listed in the procedure, you have to be
thorough.
o None/No reactions if there are no reactions.
Mathematical equations

Not everything will be listed in the procedure, you have to be

thorough.
o None/No equations/No calculations if there are no calculations.
6. Procedure:
In past passive tense, in your own words
Including
o Apparatus and reagents
o Steps
o Flowcharts, graphs, diagrams to demonstrate set-ups
7. Answer pre-lab questions:
In complete sentences
8. Data tables:
o Labels
o Units
o Observed from Procedure
o

DURING LAB
1. Record data:
In the data tables
Values that are calculated should be in Result tables
2. Record observations:
In complete sentences
3. Change to Procedure:
If there is any significant deviation.

POST-LAB
The whole lab record is worth 15 points
1. Calculation:
Calculation in the Procedure
Calculation in the Post-lab questions
o Statement
o General equation/formula
o Working
o Results (in the correct no. of s.fs)
o Results of other runs/trials
Eg: Mass of water sample
Mass of water = mass of flask and water mass of empty flask
24.996 g 11.295 g = 13.701 g
= 12.401 g
= 13.980g

= 12.994 g
2. Result tables:
Labels
Units
o Literature values
o Calculated values
3. Conclusion:
In complete sentences, with flow
o Purpose: restate your purpose
o Results: calculated values
o True/Theoretical values if given
o Compare calculated values with true/theoretical values
Percent error
o Errors:
Identify: quantitative and qualitative
How it affects the final results
o If there are no errors, explain
What you did right
What you learnt and could apply to future experiment
Potential errors
o Answer post-lab questions in complete sentences