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Lab Notebook Format

The document outlines the purpose and guidelines for maintaining a laboratory notebook, emphasizing the importance of organization and proper documentation of experiments. It provides detailed instructions on the required format, including sections for pre-lab preparation, data collection, observations, and conclusions, as well as grading criteria for participation and pre-lab completion. Adherence to specific rules, such as using blue or black ink and not removing pages, is mandatory to avoid point deductions.

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11 views

Lab Notebook Format

The document outlines the purpose and guidelines for maintaining a laboratory notebook, emphasizing the importance of organization and proper documentation of experiments. It provides detailed instructions on the required format, including sections for pre-lab preparation, data collection, observations, and conclusions, as well as grading criteria for participation and pre-lab completion. Adherence to specific rules, such as using blue or black ink and not removing pages, is mandatory to avoid point deductions.

Uploaded by

c1960852
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab Notebook Format

I. Purpose of Lab Notebook


The purpose of assigning and grading laboratory notebooks is threefold - to develop and
improve organizational skills, maintain a record of course work to give one an overall view
of laboratory investigations and results, and practice the way that scientists in all fields of
study document and analyze their experiments.
II. General Guidelines
Use only BLUE OR BLACK INK. Cross out written mistakes with a single line.
NO WHITE OUT! (points will be deducted!)
All measurements must have units.
Messy reports are unacceptable.
Pages CANNOT be removed from the notebook.
Pages must have page numbers. The number must be in the same place on every page.
III. Organization of Lab Notebook
1) Title Page: The first page of your lab notebook should be a title page as follows:
Your Name
2019-2020 PreAP/GT Chemistry
Teacher’s Name
2) Table of Contents
Leave two pages for your Table of Contents. Create columns for the date of the experiment,
the title of the investigation, the page number where the lab report begins, and the grade
received on the lab report. For example, a hypothetical entry could look like this:
Table of Contents
Date: Title Page # Grade
8/20/19 Evidence of Chemical Change 6 100
3) Reference pages booklet– tape into your lab notebook on the next right-side page.

4) For every lab write up, ONLY RIGHT-SIDE PAGES WILL BE USED. Left-side pages will
always be left blank or used for un-graded scratch work. The format will be as follows:

Pre-Lab - As you arrive on the day of the lab, the teacher will check your pre-lab. You
may not begin a lab until your pre-lab has been checked. Failure to complete a pre-lab
will result in a daily grade of zero, and you may not begin the lab until you have
completed the pre-lab.
Title & Date: Title your experiment, and enter the date that the experiment was
performed.
Objective/Guiding Question: State the objective and/or guiding question(s) of the
investigation.
Safety Precautions: State all of the applicable safety precautions. Include SDS
information about all reactants.
Summary of Procedures: State the steps of the lab in your own words to show
understanding of lab procedures before you start. (You may paraphrase previously
written/printed instructions.) Note any changes in the lab procedure here.
Pre-lab Questions: For some (but not all) lab reports, pre-lab questions will be
assigned. Questions must be written. Answer these questions before you begin your
lab.
Data Table: This should be in a TABLE FORMAT ALWAYS! Use a ruler. Plan and
create a space to record the data that you must collect during the lab investigation.
During and after the lab investigation:
Observations: Use your senses to make observations. Write down events that you see,
feel, or hear during the investigation. Tasting is not allowed due to safety concerns.
Graph, Diagram: Show your analysis of your data. Graphs are used to display your
results more succinctly in order to support your claim.
Calculations: Show detailed calculations on the right side pages. Report all
answers with the correct number of significant figures.
Post-Lab Questions: Answer all lab questions. Questions must be written.
Conclusion/Investigation Report: This is the section in which you communicate the
results of your investigation and make and support the claim that you are making
based on your experimental outcome(s). It is imperative that scientists use proper
grammar and spelling in order for their work to be taken seriously.
To write a proper report, the following guideline should be followed:
1. What was the guiding question of your investigation? (Answering this question
was the goal/objective of the investigation.)
2. What did you do, and what happened? In complete sentences, briefly describe your
experimental methods, and all important observations.
3. What theory was demonstrated? (based on lecture notes, pre-lab discussion and
pre-lab questions)
4. What is your claim (answer to the guiding question), and how does your data
support it?
Sources of Error: What were your sources of error? Name the specific error and how
it influences the data. Does the error make the values obtained larger or smaller than
they should be? Which measurement was the least precise? Instrumental and human
error exist in all experiments, and should NOT be mentioned as a source of error
unless they cause a significant fault. Mistakes in calculations are not a valid source of
error. If possible, calculate a percent error here.
IV. Grading Criteria
Pre-Lab: A separate Daily (“Other”) grade. Students who have not done the ENTIRE pre-lab
before arriving in class will receive a grade of zero, will not be allowed to participate, and
must attend a makeup lab.
Participation: During the lab, the teacher will monitor the activities that are going on in the
lab area. If unsafe lab behavior is observed, 10 pt. will be deducted from the lab (Quiz)
grade. Each lab station must be cleaned and inspected by the teacher before the period is
over with all lab group members present. The instructor reserves the right to deduct points
for stations that are not completely cleaned.

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