Writing a Formal Report
general guideleines are in the lab manual, pp 9-10
FOLLOW THEM!
Your report should be organized as follows:
Title page
Purpose - be concise; one or two sentences
Theory - 1. The METHOD used (NOT the procedure!)
2. The RELEVANT theoretical background
Procedure - describes what was done
e.g. "Approximately 25 mg of the sample were weighed by difference into a beaker."
... 3rd person, past tense
Observations
- use tables whenever possible
- number all tables and graphs, refer to in text
- include uncertainties and units on all measurements
Calculations
- show a sample calculation
- calculate uncertainties on results
- compare result to accepted or literature values
- calculate precision and accuracy
Discussion
- makes or breaks your mark
- shows proof of your understanding
- discussion of the significance of the results
- must address EVERY point covered in the theory
Conclusions - summarize the results
Bibliography - see format on p 10
For the gravimetric lab...
Results too low?
- incomplete precipitation
- decomposition of AgCl
- peptization
- dissolution of AgCl by washing
Show the relevant reactions, and show why you know low results happen!
Results too high?
- coprecipitation of other ions
- precipitation of additional Ag+
- incomplete drying
- etc.
Show the relevant reactions, and show why you know high results happen!
Some additional information can be found on the web at:
and at
http://www.chem.ualberta.ca/courses/plambeck/p101/p01192.htm