le te = = 2 = A. Table of Properties = This portion of the report must contain relevant properties of the reagents that : you will be using in a particular experiment. For example, in the Recrystallization of . = Benzoie Acid, take note of the structure of benzoic acid, its boiling point, its melting = point, its solubility at 100°C and at 0°C in a particular solvent, its physical appearance, and safety precautions, if there are any. A particular compound has several properties. ‘Thus, you only need to include those properties that are important in a particular activity. For instance, the following things are expected for benzoic acid in the aforementioned = experiment: - Y You want to know the structure of the compound because from its 4 structure, you will be able to deduce the kind of interactions that will be a present between benzoic acid and the solvent, which in this case is water. “| Y You want to know the boiling point to check ifthe compound evaporates : ata particular temperate. Y You want to know its melting point for the melting point determination and for the recrystallization process. ¥ You want 10 know its solubility at 100°C and at 0°C in a particular solvent to know if, indeed, your solvent is suitable for the = recrystallization of the compound. Also, there are prelab/postiab = questions that require knowledge of certain solubility constants. 7 Y You want to know the description (physical properties - color, physical : state, odor) of the erystals of pure benzoic acid so that you can compare your product with the pure one. At least, you already have a rough Judgment on whether you gota pure product or not. In the extraction process, you want to know the densities and solubilities ‘af compounds because the values will tell in which layers compounds are expected to mix or be dissolved. ¥ In cases when the IR spectrum of the sample will be obtained, list down beforehand the specific wavelengths at which the fimetional groups of the compound will absorb. = = 3 = = =© Finally, safety precautions are self-explanatory. B. Reaction ‘The reaction must be presented in a balanced chemical equation. This will help you in calculating for your theoretical yild later on, This pat is very important because the equation already summarizes what you are about todo inthe laboratory. ©. Flowchart ‘This portion is usually taken for granted since most students just copy from what is written in the procedure, The flowchart of the experiment's procedure will guide you a5 you perform the experiment. Students who do not have an organized flowchart of the things to be done on the day of the experiment are usually the ones who encounter ‘accidents and blunders in the laboratory. D. Prelaboratory Questions Questions before the laboratory session are meant fo test your understanding and prepare you on the experiment that you are about to do. These questions must be answered thoroughly and explained in your own words, Highfalutin words and chemical terms are not impressive unless they are thoroughly explained, E. Data ata obtained from the experiment should be recorded immediately in your laboratory notebook. Relevant daa like weight of crude sample and weight of product, te ae the ones that are expected in this part. Write down the information as reported by the instrument. Example, if the balance reports data up to four decimal places, then 2.0000 g is not 2 g, More importantly, do not forget the units. It is also. your ‘esponsibility tobe consistent in the numberof significant figures, Not all balances in the laboratory report data inthe same mumber of significant figures, Finally, in dealing with instruments do not forget to write down in your laboratory notebook the model of the instrument as well asthe parameters under which the measurement is taken, F. Observations u Sha a be bb a ebb 0 eV Me | (Leon© From the very stat of your experiment, immediately write down your ‘observations ie, description (physical properties) of your erude sample. As you go along. ‘with the experiment, ake note of what happened, if there are any separations — describe the two layers ofthe residue and the filtrate, and describe your final prodc. You should ‘be creative inthis part. Most ofthe time, your teacher will not be 100% present as you do the experiment, Thus, i is important that you take down everything so that other people will know what you did in the experiment. Rule of thumb: Be concrete in writing descriptions. G, Results Results must be calculated correctly and reported in the correct number of significant figures, If the experiment only involves isolation or purification of compound, the percentage recovery, which is just the ratio of the amount of product ‘obtained to the amount of the starting material multiplied by 100, should be reported. In synthesis experiments, the theoretical, actual, and percentage yields are important. The theoretical yield is the maximum product that the reaction can yield and is calculated {rom the limiting reagent, whieh is ane ofthe starting materials present in molar deficit (On the other hand, the actual yield is the amount that is obtained experimentally. The percentage yleld is celewated asthe actual yield over the theoretical, times 100, Yoyield = actual yield x 100 theoretical yield H. Discussion ‘To be able to write a good discussion, make an outline of what you are about to write first. I is even advisable that you discuss among your classmates what you did in the laboratory session — the theory behind the experiment, the things that fed you to produce such quality of product, ete, There are also a lot of references that are available in the [brary that could enlighten you in your attempt fo understand the theory behind the Jaboratory experiment, You ean cite these references but never plagiarize, Your teacher will definitely know if you just copied the whole statement from a book or a journalIt is important that you will be able to link your research to whet you did in the laboratory. What do you think are the reasons why you got this yield? What went wrong and what should be done, instead? Can you say that your product is pure even ifyou did not analyze i for its purity? Why? Ut is in this part that you will realize how indispensable ‘your lab notebook is, especially if you wrote down inthe observations section the things that happened as you performed the experiment. ‘Remember that ths portion does not have to be lengthy. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “brevity isthe soul of wit" It is not necessary to write a five-page single-spaced discussion to get a good grade, A page-long discussion is already enough as long as you hhave already explained the relevant details in the experiment ‘And do not forget to waite down your references. Your teacher may want to read those references for leisure purposes. G. Postlaboratory Questions ‘These are questions to supplement your understanding of the experiment and of the theory behind it. Ifyou are to submit @ handwritten report ‘make sure that your handwriting is respectably legible. © 3B = = = = = e = = = = = = ; 5 5 = = = q 5 = = =