CHEM 1103/1104 Laboratory Notebook Guidelines

An important part of your scientific work is the keeping of accurate and detailed records. Authorship of research and ownership of patents is often determined by recordkeeping. Failure to keep accurate records can lead to accusations of fraud or criminal activity. In science, the laboratory notebook is a permanent record of observations and measurements made in the laboratory. The short text, "Writing the Laboratory Notebook" by Kanare, describes methods for keeping the notebook in detail. If you are seriously considering science as a career, this book is a worthwhile investment. Below, a summary of important points for general chemistry is given.

1. The notebook must be permanently bound. No spiral bound or loose leaf is acceptable. The large, bound calculation notebook is preferred. Be sure to record your name and some means for contacting you permanently on the notebook in case it is lost.

2. The first page should be a table of contents.

3. Everything written in the notebook is written in blue or black ink, preferable ball-point, as this will not smear if it gets wet.

4. All observations are to be recorded directly in the notebook. Nothing is to be recorded on scraps of paper and later transcribed. The notebook does not have to be perfectly neat, just readable.

5. For each experiment, the following items should be in the notebook:

a. Start the experiment at the top of a new page.

b. Record the title, the date and the name of your partner (if any).

c. Make a table of contents entry for the experiment.

d. A brief statement of the objective of the experiment

e. The procedure that you intend to follow.

f. Experimental observations and data. Organize this into tables whenever possible. See the 'data" pages in the lab manual for some organization suggestions. You can make similar forms for yourself in the notebook before coming to lab. Then, all you will have to do is "fill-in" the data. Units for experimental data must always be shown.

Items a-e should be completed before coming to the lab. You can start on item f.   lab will be a lot smoother for you if you have data tables already aet-up before you arrive.

g. Space for interpretation of results. Many of the experiments will require less than the full lab period to complete. Use the extra time to draft your lab report right in the notebook. Perform the calculations - be sure they work out OK. This is a golden opportunity to be sure you understand while the TA is there to help you.

6. The above items should appear only on the right-hand pages in the notebook. Use the left hand pages for scratch work such as balance readings, rough calculations, preliminary graphs, etc.

7. Sign the bottom of every page on which there is writing.  At the conclusion of the experiment, when your teaching assistant has approved your lab station, drawer and notebook, the teaching assistant will also sign the bottom of each page.  This is standard industrial practice to ensure veracity of all results.

8. If the notebook is not preperly signed by you nad the T.A. then you will not receive any credit for the experiment.