Chemistry Lab Report Template

• brief statement of the problem being investigated

Hypothesis

• an educated guess as to the results of the experiment (remember to hypothesize regarding the objective of the lab, e.g., if the lab is about density, hypothesize on the density of the substance)

Background

• state and explain the chemical principles or concepts used in the lab
  
  1. brainstorm principles and concepts to discuss, with a lab member using your notes, book, lab handout, etc.
     
  2. suggestion: start with a book definition (the "huh, what" definition) and then follow that up with "what that really means is..." (your OWN words) and use examples!

Materials

• given in a list form
  
  -100 mL beaker
  -thermometer (etc.)
  
  
• include illustration of equipment set-up when needed

Procedure

• should be in numbered list form
  
• should be easy to follow
  
  1. Fill 100 mL beaker approximately halfway full with distilled water
     
  2. Set up Bunsen burner as shown in figure 1 and begin heating water to boiling. (etc.)

Observations

• sensory (qualitative) observations: what was seen, smelled, felt, etc.
  
  1. put in table form when appropriate

Data

• measured (quantitative) observations
  
  1. any measurements actually read on a piece of lab equipment (not calculated on a calculator)
  
  
• put in table form (always include units in column headings)
  
• when specified include a graph which shows relationship between variables
  
  1. independent variable on x-axis (known before performing lab)
     
  2. dependent variable on y-axis (measured during lab)
     
  3. label both axes with item graphed AND units used

Calculations

• number and give an annotation (brief explanation) for each step of the calculation
  
• show ALL steps that it took to get the final answer e.g.
  
  1. Add 273 to Celsius temperature to convert into Kelvin temperature:
     
     30°C + 273 = 303 K

Analysis

• state whether your hypothesis was supported (and why) & be quantitative with your analysis
  
  1. percent error (how far off your measurements were from what they should have been)
     
     1. |experimental-theoretical| / theoretical x 100
        
        1. experimental is what you measured during the lab and theoretical is the calculated number using stoichiometry.
  
  
• discuss sources of error

Conclusion

• briefly summarize the experiment while tying in objectives, give real-world examples