HOW TO WRITE A LABORATORY REPORT

A laboratory report is an account of an experiment and what was discovered during the
experiment. The three main purposes of a lab report are: to communicate exactly what occurred
in an experiment by presenting data, discuss the results, and provide conclusions. Writing plays a
very important role in science. The most brilliant discovery in a laboratory is useless unless the
knowledge about it is disseminated to be used and developed by other scientists.

These reports are not only a compilation of any data gathered, but require writing skills as well.
When completed, your lab report should allow a reader to understand your experiment, to
understand the results and their implications, and to recreate the experiment themselves. A good
lab report is composed of eight parts: a Title Page, an Abstract, an Introduction, a section on
Methods and Materials, a section on Results, a Discussion, a Conclusion, and a Works
Cited/References page. After going into the field or doing an experiment in the lab, it will be
necessary for you to gather your notes and data and organize them to fit into these eight sections.

1. Title Page

Title Page is the first page of your report, and should contain the following, depending on your
instructor’s preferences:
* A concise but descriptive title that clearly explains your experiment,
* your name and matriculation number
*the name of the course
*your instructor’s name or department
* and the due date of the paper

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2. Abstract < 200 words

 Abstract is the summary of the experiment as a whole and should familiarize the reader
with the purpose of the research.
 Abstract will always be written last, even though it is the first paragraph of a lab report.
 Not all lab reports will require an abstract. However, they are often included in upper-
level lab reports and should be studied carefully.
 When writing an abstract, try to answer these questions:
o Why was the research done or experiment conducted?
o What problem is being addressed?
o What results were found?
o What are the meanings of the results?
o Conclusion of the work.

*The abstract is written in past tense.

3. Introduction: Approx. 300 words

 The introduction of a lab report discusses the problem being studied and other theory that
is relevant to understanding the findings.
 The aim and objectives of the experiment and the motivation for the research are stated in
this section.
 Write the introduction in your own words. Try not to copy from a lab manual or other
guidelines. Instead, show comprehension of the experiment by briefly explaining the
problem.

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4. Materials and Methods: Approx. 300 words

 The methods and materials section provides an overview of any equipment, apparatus, or
other substances used in the experiment, as well as the steps taken during the experiment.
If using any specific amounts of materials, make sure the amount is listed.
o Ex: pipette, graduated cylinder, 1.13mg of Na, 0.67mg Ag
 List the steps taken as they actually happened during the experiment, not as they were
supposed to happen.
 If written correctly, another researcher should be able to duplicate the experiment and get
the same or very similar results.

It should be written in passive past tense. This removes the experimenter from the experiment
and ensures the procedure reads as something that was already done, rather than something to be
done. Correct: “Acid was added to the test tube.” Incorrect: “I added acid to the test tube,” or,
“Next, add acid to the test tube.” There should be enough detail for another scientist to replicate
the experiment.

5. Results: Approx. 300 words

 The results show the data that was collected or found during the experiment.
 Explain in words the data that was collected.
 If using graphs, charts, or other figures, present them in the results section of the lab
report.
o Tables should be labeled numerically, as "Table 1", "Table 2", etc. Other figures
should be labeled numerically as "Figure 1", "Figure 2", etc.
 If one figure follows another, the first will be “Figure 1” and the second will be “Figure
2,” however if a table follows a figure, the figure will be “Figure 1” and the table will be
“Table 1”). Put these labels below figures and above tables. A brief description of the
figure next to the number looks professional and may be helpful to readers.
 Calculations to understand the data can also be presented in the results.

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6. Discussion: Approx.: 500 words

 The discussion section is one of the most important parts of the lab report. It analyzes the
results of the experiment and is a discussion of the data.
 If any results are unexpected, explain why they are unexpected and how they did or did
not affect the data obtained.
 Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the design of the experiment and compare your
results to other similar experiments.
 If there are any experimental errors, analyze them.
 Explain your results and discuss them using relevant terms and theories.
 When writing a discussion, try to answer these questions:
o What do the results indicate?
o What is the significance of the results?
o Are there any gaps in knowledge?
o Are there any new questions that have been raised?

This section should be written in past tense.

Conclusion: Approx. 200 words

 The conclusion is a summation of the experiment. It should clearly and concisely state
what was learned and its importance.
 If there is future work that needs to be done, it can be explained in the conclusion.

References

 If using any outside sources to support a claim or explain background information, those
sources must be cited in the references section of the lab report. It should be written in
APA form.
 In the event that no outside sources are used, the references section may be left out.

Note: You are expected to have written the Title Page, Introduction, Materials and Methods, and
References before coming to the laboratory as this will be used as your pass to the lab. The

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remaining aspects of the lab report which include the Abstract, Results, Discussion and
Conclusion should be completed during and after the laboratory experiment. You are expected to
submit your complete laboratory report by 12.00 noon the next day. Failure to do this will lead to
deduction of 10 marks as penalty.

The laboratory report should be handwritten, one-side and between 15 and 25 pages.

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 PREPARATION, CONDUCT AND SAFETY IN THE
LABORATORY
The following safety rules must be followed at all times in the laboratory. The laboratory is not
necessarily a dangerous place. Intelligent precautions and a proper understanding of techniques
to be followed make the laboratory no more dangerous than any other classroom.

1. Safety goggles (department approved) must be worn in the lab at all times during
experiment that involves the use of chemicals. Glasses and contact lenses are not acceptable
eye protection. Students who do not follow this rule will be asked to leave the lab immediately.

2. Never eat or drink in the lab. Food may pick up toxic chemicals.

3. Never inhale fumes or vapors. Use fume hoods for dangerous or irritating chemicals. Always
waft odors toward your nose with your hand.

4. Never taste any chemical. Some chemicals are very corrosive and poisonous in very small
quantities.

5. Never perform an unauthorized experiment and never work in the lab without an
instructor in charge. An accident may happen when mixing simple chemicals and equipment
may be destroyed.

6. Never remove anything (chemicals, glassware, equipment etc.) from the lab.
It is illegal!

7. Label all containers to identify their contents.

8. Never put anything back into a reagent bottle. Once a reagent has passed the mouth of its
container, it has passed the point of no return. Always take as little of a chemical as possible. Use

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only clean, dry spatulas for removing chemicals from bottles. Properly dispose of excess
chemicals.

9. Leave chemicals and equipment in their proper place. Do not carry original containers of
chemicals to your benchtop or move equipment from one location to another without permission
of your instructor.

10. Avoid touching hot objects. Burns are a common accident in the lab. Be careful when using
hot plates and objects which have been heated on them. Use beaker tongs to remove hot
containers from the hot plate.

11. Rinse spills off skin immediately. Rinse off any chemicals spilled on the skin immediately
with large amounts of water.

12. Clean up broken glassware immediately. Place it in the dustbin in the lab. Obtain
replacement glassware from the instructor.

13. Properly dispose of waste chemicals. Certain liquids can be poured into the sink and
flushed with water while others are poured into designated waste containers. Most solid wastes
are placed in designated dustbin. Your instructor will provide disposal instructions each lab.

14. Notify your instructor immediately of all accidents.

The following are procedures that must be followed for all lab sessions.
Many are safety issues as well.

1. Dress properly for lab. Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible (Laboratory
Coat). Sandals are not permitted, you should wear canvass or lab safety boots. All loose clothing
and long hair must be confined.

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2. Read the entire experiment before coming to lab. The instructor will briefly discuss the
experiment at the beginning of each lab.

3. Arrive on time for lab. If a student arrives late for lab and misses a substantial portion of the
introductory discussion and safety precautions, the student may be a threat to themselves and
others in the lab. The instructor may deny the student the privilege of completing the assigned
experiment.

4. Work independently unless otherwise instructed and do not roam around the laboratory
unnecessarily.

5. Keep the benchtop uncluttered. Only those personal items pertinent to the lab work (lab
manual, etc.) are to be on the benchtop at a students work station. Book bags, coats, etc. are not
to be placed on the benchtop or on the floor close to the lab benches. Place all such items in the
designated areas near the entrance to the lab.

6. Keep drawers closed. Drawers and cabinets are to be kept closed except when items are
being taken from or returned to these drawers.

7. Do not come to lab under the influence of drugs. If, in the judgment of the instructor, a
student presents a safety hazard to himself or his fellow students because the student is affected
by medication, alcohol or other factors, the instructor may refuse to allow the student to continue
working in the lab that day. If the situation is noted more than once, the student may be
permanently removed from the course.

8. Clean up at the end of lab. At the end of all lab sessions return clean glassware to your
drawer, clean your benchtop and finally wash your hands thoroughly. Be sure all electrical
devices and water are turned off.
9. Any equipment destroyed will be paid for by the student (s) involved.

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