Laboratory Notebook

An important part of your work in this course is training in keeping a laboratory notebook, which
should be considered a permanent record of your observations and data obtained in each
experiment. Please note the following guidelines for keeping your notebook.

Getting Started: General Notebook Setup

1. A suitable notebook would be a bound composition notebook, either with graph pages or lined
pages. Loose-leaf paper in a binder is NOT acceptable for use. Some spiral notebooks are
acceptable. You should NEVER remove pages from this notebook!

2. Write your name and the course number (CHMY 121) on the front cover of the notebook.

3. If the pages are not already numbered, go through and number each page (front and back)
beginning with the first page, in permanent black or dark blue ink, through about forty pages.
Write the page number in one of the outside corners of the page.

4. On the inside cover, write your name, course number, instructor’s name, lab drawer number,
and the name of the person that you are sharing the lab drawer with (if applicable). [Optional:
you may want to put contact information (e.g. address or phone number) here in case your
notebook is lost. Alternatively, you can suggest returning your lab notebook to the Chemistry
Department at Flathead Valley Community College.]

5. Save the first page of the notebook for a Table of Contents (TOC). For each new laboratory
experiment, update the TOC with the experiment title and the page number on which it begins.

6. All information entered into the laboratory notebook must be recorded in permanent black or
dark blue ink. Do not use a pencil! Data should be written directly into the laboratory
notebook as it is collected. It should not be recorded on scraps of paper and later transcribed.
It is up to your preference whether you write on both sides of the pages in the notebook.

7. If you make a mistake in writing, just put a single line through the part in error, then date and
initial the part that has been crossed out. Please do not use “white out” to erase mistakes!
Why? When cases go to court, this is the only format that is accepted in trial as valid, so one can
prove nothing was changed or made up at a later date.

8. Any empty space left on a page should be crossed out with an “X” so no more information can
be added. Refer to #7 above for an explanation.

9. All observations (even preliminary or unsatisfactory ones) should be recorded. The code
numbers (or sample numbers) of balances, reagent bottles, and other special items should be
recorded.
Time for Lab: Lab Notebook Format

The information from each separate lab experiment should begin on a new, right-hand page in your
lab notebook, and should include the following information (* = to be completed before the lab is
performed):

• Title/Name/Date/Partner Name(s)/TOC*

The title should be descriptive; the title given in your lab manual may not be sufficient. Include
your first and last name, along with the date that the experiment is to be performed and the
first and last name(s) of all your lab partner(s). Make sure to update the TOC for each
experiment as well.

• Objective/Purpose of Experiment*

In two or three sentences, describe the objective or purpose for completing the lab. Use your
own words – do not copy the introduction given in the lab manual. Think about the following:
“Why are you doing this lab?” or “What are you trying to find out?”

• Procedure*

DO NOT COPY THE PROCEDURE FROM THE LAB MANUAL. You are not required to write out the
experimental procedure in the lab notebook unless you are coming up with your own procedure
(see below). Do include in this section a complete reference for the original procedure (citation
examples given on the next page).

However, it is expected that the student will have read through the procedure (more than once)
and understands the operations that are involved; it is essential that the student understands
why each step is being done.

Also be sure to include any deviations from the original procedure (for example, the experiment
was repeated two times instead of three times as originally directed). These can be added later
if they happen to occur while doing the experiment.

If the experiment requires you to create a design plan and procedure to either accomplish a task
or answer a question, then all equipment and chemicals used, as well as a step-by-step detailed
procedure is written in this section.

Do not record any data or observations in this section of the lab notebook. It needs to be
included in the next section (Data and Observations).
 Sample citations in APA Style

Online Lab Manual:

FVCC Chemistry Department (2025). Hot Water: A Laboratory Investigation [Electronic version].
CHMY 121 Laboratory Manual, xx-xx.

Textbook:
Zumdahl, S., and DeCoste, D. (2019). Introductory Chemistry: A Foundation (9th ed.), pp. xx-
xx. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Lab Manual:
FVCC Chemistry Department (2023). Precipitation Reactions. In CHMY 121 Laboratory
Manual (pp. xx-xx). Kalispell, MT

Online Lab Manual:

FVCC Chemistry Department (2023). Precipitation Reactions [Electronic version]. CHMY 121
Laboratory Manual, xx-xx.

Handouts: include author and date if known

Wenz, A. (2023). “Chemistry 121: Mole Method” [Handout 2023], Flathead Valley Community
College, Kalispell, Montana.

• Data and Observations

This section will be written as you perform the experiment; the data you collect and
observations that you make are recorded here. Perhaps the easiest way to collect your data and
observations is to paraphrase the procedure as you go through the steps and then enter your
observation and data for that step. Simply enter a one- or two-line statement to describe the
operation and, immediately afterward, record your data. You do not need to write complete,
grammatically correct sentences in this section as it is understood that you will be concentrating
on the experiment. Here is a brief example:

Step 1 1.0042 g of NH4Cl added to 5 mL of DI H2O in medium-size test tube

obtained clear solution
test tube was cold to touch (endothermic process?)

Step 2 approx. 1 mL of AgNO3 (aq) added dropwise to test tube

immediate formation of ppt
ppt was white, cloudy no heat observed no bubbles

As you record your data and observations, this section may become messy and unorganized,
which is to be expected. You may want to add a summary of your data in the form of tables,
charts, or lists to facilitate writing the report rather than trying to "hunt" through disjointed
recordings.
 Record the data as obtained during the experiment directly into the notebook. Use data tables
to organize the information and label each table (Table number and the caption) indicating
the information it contains. Be sure to record all measurements to the correct number of
significant figures (e.g., initial and final burette readings, starting and ending temperatures,
etc.).

This section cannot contain any information obtained via calculations. The results of the
calculations belong in the lab report instead.

Report any observable occurrences (color change, precipitate formation, gas formation,
generation or absorption of heat, etc.). Also, report any errors made during the
experiment—this information may be useful when discussing possible issues with the final
results.

Suggestion: Carefully read the experiment, more than once, and create a mental list of the
type(s) of information you will be collecting. Plan in advance; if you need a data table, decide on
the number of columns in the table and column titles and consider how much room on a page
you need for your table(s) (or charts, lists). The Analysis section of your lab report cannot
include any information not supported by the Data and Observations section.

• Graphs (if applicable – not every experiment will have one)

All graphs must have a descriptive title and the x- and y-axis should be labeled (including
units). If graphs are produced for separate trials, each graph’s title must indicate which trial the
data represents. When applicable, ensure the best-fit line or curve is included, along with the
equation for the best-fit. Print out a copy and tape or staple it into your notebook for graphs
generated by software on a computer or other device. Attach the graph to a blank page (do not
cover any other information) and fold it, if needed, so it fits into the notebook when closed. Or
upload the image of the graph with your notebook pages.

Before You Leave: Completing Lab for the Day

1. Once you have finished the lab for the day, sign and date each page. This shows that you have
completed entering the information on each page. Make sure each page is numbered.

2. Digital copies of pages from your laboratory notebook will be turned in and graded each week.
These will be graded out of 25 points. Please see the attached rubric that states specific grading
guidelines.
 3 (Excellent) 2 (Good) 1 (Fair) 0 (Missing)
Descriptive title used. Date of
experiment given. TOC is up-to-
Title, Name,
date and included. First/last 1 requirement not met. 2 requirements not met. 3 - 4 requirements not met.
Date, TOC name(s) of student given (correctly
spelled).
2 (Excellent) 1 (Fair) 0 (Missing)
Objective or
Clearly stated with rationale. General idea stated. Completely missing.
Purpose
4 (Excellent) 3 (Good) 2 (Fair) 1 (Poor) 0 (Missing)
If guided inquiry, Citation from source has
If guided inquiry, missing
Source of procedure is correctly cited procedure is incomplete one or more errors in
essential info; not
OR procedure written in full detail if but somewhat format. If guided inquiry,
Procedure guided inquiry lab.
reproducible. Little to no Completely missing.
reproducible. All missing minor info.
procedural changes
All procedural changes noted. procedural changes Some procedural changes
noted.
noted. noted.

All data presented in labeled tables Data tables and/or

with correct units & s.f. All data is presented in graphs have missing or
labeled tables with incorrect units and/or
Observations are detailed and written Data tables are not
correct units. labels. Observations are
Data, in logical manner, referring to step in presented for all trials.
Observations are limited or limited
Observations, Procedure. Very few observations
detailed. Mistakes description given. Completely missing.
and Graphs (if Mistakes and/or unexpected outcomes recorded.
and/or unexpected Mistakes and unexpected
applicable) noted. outcomes noted. Graphs are not presented
behavior not mentioned.
Graphs have titles and labeled axes for all trials.
Graphs have titles and Graphs have missing or
(with units). Best-fit line and equation labeled axes. incorrect units and/or
included where appropriate labels.
Document was not single
Spelling, Document uploaded as single file, and
file or was uploaded to
Format, and to correct assignment folder. 3 or fewer errors. 6 – 7 errors 8 or more errors.
wrong folder.
Grammar No spelling, format, or grammar errors
4 – 5 errors.
Handwriting is legible. Mistakes in
writing are treated appropriately.
4 or more requirements
Neatness Notebook is well-organized. All entries 1 requirement not met. 2 requirements not met. 3 requirements not met.
not met.
made using black or dark blue pen.
Graphs are securely attached.
Each page is signed and dated by
All 4 requirements not
Legal student. Empty spaces have been 1 requirement not met. 2 requirements not met. 3 requirements not met.
met.
crossed out. Each page is numbered.