Lab Experiment #2

NOTE – REPORT IS SUBMITTED AS ONE DOCUMENT WITH PHOTOS/GRAPHS AND QUESTIONS INSERTED

Experiment/Activity #

Data

 Clearly present your data. Include data tables and graphs (if any were needed). While graphs may not be needed for every lab, data tables usually are. If you list numbers, make sure the column label includes the appropriate unit associated with all the numbers in that column.

Example Table

Step Substance Reagent Result Description
         
         

 

Calculations

This section needs to show calculations for any calculations that were needed in regarding your data.

  • You must show work for the calculations in the questions or you will not get credit for you answer.
Conclusion

This section should summarize in detail the main findings of the lab. Your conclusion should be one paragraph and on the order of 4 – 5 sentences. Summarize the main results and conclusions from the experiment and the main sources of error. You may also include what you learned in the experiment or any results that you found surprising. For example:

  • State at least three sources of error in the lab.
    • Sources of error do NOT include errors in calculations. Do not say “human error”.
    • Error is classified as random or systematic, with explanations.
    • Find things within the lab that you could not control this time, but that you might be able to control if you could repeat the experiment under different conditions or with better equipment. Do not list things like not reading the directions, not cleaning glassware, or just being careless.

For this section it is helpful to think of the assumptions that were made in the lab and how your data would be affected if those assumptions were not completely true.

 

Answer to Questions

Depending on the lab, there might be both Pre and Post lab questions along with Activity questions, which will all be found in the Lab Questions document. All of these questions must be answered for full credit on the lab report.

Be sure to completely answer and explain all the questions and include complete calculations for any questions that require calculations. Please feel free to ask questions in our discussion forums as you work through them.

Examples:

 

1.  Which of the group I chlorides has the lowest molar solubility? What is its solubility in moles/L?

 Answer this fully and give your reasoning/explanation for your answer

 

2.  Could you foresee difficulty in quantitative analysis of your unknown ion in aqueous solution or ions by weighing the precipitate? Explain why or why not in quantitative terms.

 Answer this fully and give your reasoning/explanation for your answer

References

You need to include, at minimum, one reference. Be sure to reference all information that you use to write you report, including any web resources or your text book.  All sources should be cited using APA guidelines.

Students are required to include citations for a couple of reasons. First, include references for the lab manual because the class is following procedures and using materials from the lab vendor. If a person reads a lab, but isn’t already familiar with the procedure, they will have a difficult time understanding what was done. Including a reference at the end of the document provides a pathway for someone to look up the original procedures to help them understand the results. Another point in including references is to practice writing proper citations according to APA guidelines http://ccconline.libguides.com/APAtoolkit. See the report rubric for more information.