How to Write a Chemistry Laboratory Report

It is important for any individual involved in science to be able to write a report of the work they have
performed in the laboratory. A well-written lab report is easy to read, demonstrates comprehension of
the experiment performed, and reflects on how the experiment applies to the chemistry principles
discussed during the lecture section of the class. Lab reports should include the following sections:
Title Page, Introduction with ​Hypotheses​​, Materials, Procedure, Data, Results, and a Conclusion which
provides an explanation of whether the original hypotheses were true or not​​.
Do not copy and paste information from your Lab Worksheets. Everything must be in your own words.
Lab Reports are written in third person, past tense (no we did . . or I did . . .)

1. Title Page. ​The title page includes: the title of the experiment, your first and last name and the
name(s) of your lab partner(s), your Professor's name, and the date of the experiment. The title of
your experiment should be concise and to the point - yet fully explain its purpose. Use whatever font
size and format you like.

2. Introduction. ​Write an effective introduction by clearly stating why the experiment is important.
The introduction should reflect an understanding of the theory behind the experiment and clearly
state the purpose of the experiment. ​Include any necessary background information about the
subject, procedure and experiment being performed, including key formulas and chemical reactions.
Conclude your introduction with a hypothesis of the expected outcome of the experiment and
explain your reasons for this outcome​​. (1/2 to one-page).

3. Materials. ​Create a table of all the materials and chemicals used in the experiment.

4. Procedure. ​Provide an overview of the procedure you used to perform the experiment. There is no
need to re-write the entire procedures. Simply make reference to the actual procedure that was
used. Be sure to note any changes in the procedure. An example of the reference follows:
“​Determining Reaction Order and Activation Energy: Crystal Violet and Sodium Hydroxide”, CHEM
102 General Chemistry Lab Experiment 5.” The procedure was followed with the exception that an
ice bath was used instead of the hot water bath.

5. Data. ​This section ​includes anything you observed​ or data you collected during the experiment.
Data should be neatly formatted into tables. Each table should be numbered and have a Title which
is descriptive of the information in the Table. Data in tables should be easy to read and have plenty
of “white space” so the information is easy to read. All numbers should contain the correct units (in
the header, if possible) and correct number of significant figures.

6. Results. ​This section contains your interpretation of the data. It contains graphs, calculations, and
additional tables, if needed. All graphs should have a title and number, labeled axes, and no legend.
Use a “scatter plot with no line” to produce your graphs using Microsoft Excel. Add a trendline (best
line fit) and goodness of fit (R​2​) for the linear data you have collected. Do not fit a straight line to
curved data! ​Show a sample of each calculation. Be sure to include and cancel units, using the
factor-label method, whenever possible​​.

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7. Conclusion. ​Write a ½-page conclusion section that summarizes the most important results of the
experiment. The conclusion should state the key findings and results in the experiment. If you
determined the rate constants and activation energy, list these values with the correct units.
Refer back to your original hypotheses in the introduction. Where your hypotheses proven true or
false, and why. ​ ​If your results do not support your hypothesis, theorize why you achieved
differing results and how the experiment could be performed differently.

Suggested Format for the Body of the Lab Report

a) Margins: Top: 0.70” Bottom: 0.60” Left: 1.0” Right 1.0”

b) Font: Calibri 11 pt
c) Spacing: 1.5
d) Numbers/Symbols: Use correct numbers and symbols, as in the Table 1.

Table 1. Correct and Incorrect Use of Numbers and Symbols in a Lab Report.

Correct Incorrect
Δ delta
​
6.02 x 10​23 6.02E23
P​​1​V​
​ ​1​​ = P​​2​V​
​ ​2 P1V1 = P2V2
H​​2​SO​
​ ​4 H2SO4
o​​
21.5​​ C 21.5oC, 21.5C, 21.5 degrees C
5.00 mL 5 milliliters or 5 mL

To make a subscript: Highlight the character(s) and simultaneously press <Ctrl><+>.

To make a superscript: Highlight the character(s) and simultaneously press <Ctrl><Shift><+>.

e) Data Tables: Place data in Data Tables and use plenty of white space as in the above example.
Each Table should contain a Table number and Title as in the above example.

f) Graphs: Graphs should be large and properly labeled. Each Graph should have a number and a
title which is descriptive of the information in the graph. This labeling is easier to perform in in
the body of the report using Microsoft Word vs. Microsoft Excel. Please do not include the
legend on the graph unless it displays useful information. For graphs containing a linear
relationship of the data point, add a trendline with the best linear fit (y = mx + b) and goodness
of fit (R​2​).

g) Calculations: ​Show a sample of each calculation​. The following example was created using the
Equation Editor in Microsoft Word. You may cut, paste, and modify this template for your Lab
Report or create your own. You may also write the calculation in pen if that is easier.

2.00 mL 1L
x 1000 mL x 0.10 mol1NLa2S2O3 x 2 mol1 mol I2
N a2S2O3 x
1 mol H2O2
1 mol I2 = 2.0 x 10 − 5 mol H2O2