CSEC Chemistry

Guidelines for Lab reports

Mr. Banton

Table 1: List of Experiments generally done In First Year

Lab # Title Remarks

1 Diffusion of hydrogen chloride and ammonia Done in Term 1
2 Construction of a cooling curve Done in Term 1
3 Construction of a solubility curve Done in Term 1
4 Separation of copper(ii) sulphate from sand Done in Term 1
5 Chromatography Done in Term 1
6 Preparation of a soluble salt Done Term 2
7 Preparation of an insoluble salt Done Term 2
8 Acid-base titration Done Term 2
9 Redox Titration Done Term 2
10 Planning and Designing 1 Done in Term 3
11 Planning and Designing 2 Done in Term 3
12 Rates of Reaction 1 Done in the Summer Lab Programme
13 Rates of Reaction 2 Done in the Summer Lab Programme
14 Thermometric Titration Done in the Summer Lab Programme
15 Heat of Solution Done in the Summer Lab Programme
16 Heat of Neutralization Done in the Summer Lab Programme

The generic format for lab reports is as described in the table below:

Table 2: Generic Format For Lab Reports

Lab Feature Description

Lab # Shows sequence of labs
Date Indicates when lab was done
Title: This summarily states the general focus of the experiment
Aim: The purpose for the experiment, what the experiment seeks to investigate.
Apparatus: Instruments or glassware used
Reagents: Chemicals used for the experiment
Method: A concise description of how the experiment was carried out. This should be
written in reported speech (past tense)
Observations: A concise description of any changes observed during the experiment.
Examples of observations include (a) Colours of reactants and products (b)
Temperature changes (c) Formation of a solution or suspension. Whereas two
to three paragraphs should suffice, for some experiments, the results are
numerical. Therefore, tables will be required to summarize numerical data.
Discussion: The discussion is the section of the lab report in which the observations seen in
the lab are explained. Merely rewriting what was seen during the experiment
is NOT a discussion. A discussion must explain observations using the
following:
(a) Physical principles
(b) Chemical reactions (where a chemical reaction occurred)
(c) Chemical equations (where necessary)

Limitations/Sources of A limitation is a factor over which the experimenter has little or no control.
error: One such limitation is reaction time when using a burette. The effect of this
limitation can be reduced through repetitions of the experiment but it cannot
be completely eliminated.
Conclusion: The conclusion must state whether or not the aim was achieved. The
conclusion must be related to the aim. If the aim of the experiment was to
investigate a principle, the conclusion should state whether or not the aim was
successfully met. If the aim was not met, reasons should be supplied
concerning why the aim was not achieved.

Guidelines for labs involving graphs

I. All graphs must have the following:
 A suitable title
 A suitable scale
 Clearly labelled axes (with units where necessary)
 Properly plotted points
 A line of best fit (a straight line or a curve depending on the trend of the points)

II. Effort must be made to use more than half of the graph paper when plotting a graph. Selection
of a suitable scale will help in achieving this. Furthermore, it may be necessary to truncate an
axis.

III. Use a hard, sharp pencil when plotting a graph. This will help in producing a graph of good
quality.

General criteria for marking labs

During this course, you are expected to develop and improve in the following skills:

Table 3: Skills Assessed During Experiments

Skill Description Expected features

Observation, The student should be able to write, concise,  Comprehensive description
reporting and detailed accounts of experimental of what was done.
recording (ORR) procedures. Phenomena which occur during  Observations reported in an
 an experiment should be carefully recorded acceptable format (eg,
Observations should be recorded in a suitable paragraphs or where
format. necessary, tables)
 Properly constructed graphs
(where necessary)
 All essential features of a lab
report should be present.

NB. Deduction of marks will occur if

features are missing from the lab
report or if the tense used is
incorrect
Analysis and The student should be able to discern  Calculations (for cases in
interpretation whether the results obtained can be which a numerical quantity
(A & I) accounted for by a physical or chemical must be determined)
principle. For numerical data (or graphs), the  A concise, thorough
ability to recognize and explain trends is explanation of observations
important. noted in the experiment.
NB. Marks will be deducted for
incorrect calculations, missing units
in calculations and failure to
sufficiently explain a change
observed during an experiment
Manipulation The student should demonstrate mastery in  Proper use of equipment
and the use of selected equipment for making during an experiment.
measurement measurements or for performing  Measurements written in an
(M & M) investigations. acceptable format (eg.
Correct number of decimal
places)
NB. Marks will be deducted if poor
experimental technique is employed
during an experiment
Planning and The student should be able to develop  A suitable hypothesis
designing testable hypotheses from scenarios and  Aim related to hypothesis
(P & D) design experiments which can determine if  A suitable method
the hypotheses proposed are valid.  Relevant materials and
reagents
 Expected results
 Treatment and interpretation
of data
 Variables
 Limitation
NB. Marks will be deducted if any of
the above is not done properly

Any experiment done will be assessed for at least one of the skills listed in Table 3. In some cases, a lab
report may be assessed for two skills.