The following outline of subject headings should help you submit an acceptable lab report.  Note: You are responsible for your own lab report.  While you may work on the actual lab procedure with your partner, your report is to be done independently…no copying will be accepted.  Any copying of lab reports will result in a loss of credit and disciplinary action.

Name, Lab Section, Date

Lab Number: TITLE

Introduction

• The introduction should include a discussion of why this lab is important, how it fits into the grand scheme of Organic Chemistry, and what theoretical framework is used.
• The introduction is where you show that you understand the theory behind each operation (e.g., why are the impurities eliminated in recrystallization?).
• The purpose of the lab should be clearly stated. Note that even though my purpose in having you do an extraction lab may be "to help students learn the practice of purification by extraction" the purpose of the lab should be reported as "to isolate and identify the carboxylic acid component from a mixed unknown using extraction."

Materials and Hazards

• Should include all chemicals used in lab, any physical properties that may be helpful, hazards, and all physical properties used later for calculations.
• Do not list "irritant" as a hazard.
• Mode of entry and LD₅₀ should be listed for highly toxic chemicals.
• Use a well-organized table.
• Physical properties should be referenced.
• Equipment should be noted only when it is non-standard or where the workings could affect the results. Therefore, do not include "test tubes," but do include, "Buck Model 310 Gas Chromatagraph."

Procedure

• Include Reference.
• Be as concise and complete as possible!
• The procedure should contain all of the necessary details that one would need to achieve the same results and nothing more. The size of the reaction flask is often unimportant; the mass of reagent is essential.
• Assume your target reader is a competent student in a similar Organic Chemistry laboratory course.
• Include actual amounts of reagents used and a description and weight of products formed. [This information may need to be repeated in tabular form in the Data section.]
• Always include your unknown number if you have one.

Data

• All data that you have collected in the lab should be here in a table format.
• Attach any graphs (IR, GC, etc.)  Graphs should be neatly labeled and complete.
• This section is for data and observations only. Do NOT include any discussion or evaluation of the results. This belongs in the discussion section. Do not refer to an unknown's identity--that's a conclusion!

Discussion

• Include a rationalization of ALL your results, a discussion of what you expected to find and possible reasons that this differs from what you really found, and contrast different methods of achieving the same goal.
• This is a discussion of your results NOT a discussion of your feelings about the lab.
• Justify any conclusions you are asked to make.
• Discuss any assumptions that you have made.
• Use specifics. Cite specific values from your Results section and compare them to specific known or expected values. [e.g., Don't say "A narrow m.p. range indicates purity," instead say "The compound was found to be pure by comparing its corrected mp (103-104ºC) to the literature value (104ºC). The 1ºC mp range is a further indication of purity."]
• Discuss the implications of your data.

Conclusion

• One sentence is often plenty for a short lab.

Answers to Postlab Questions

• Answer any questions at the end of  the lab.
• Be concise but show all calculations.