Writing a Lab Report Title Page Please include the ttle of the experiment, your name, your partner’s name and the date, Purpose Describing the aim of the experiment. Background Describe the scientific theory or principles on which the experiment is based. Apparatus Include a brief list of the apparatus and chemicals used in the experiment. Procedure Briefly summarize the lab procedure. Data and Results Data should be presented clearly, allowing for easy interpretation, Record all units and measurement uncertainties ina table. Include observations. Processed data should also be prosented in a table or graph. ‘Sample calculations should also be included. Discussion Discuss the results of your experiment and evaluate them based on the accepted theory. Make specific reference fo the results you obtained. Compare your results to literature values where possible. Also compare the % error to the % uncertainly and describe whether errors are due more to systematic errors or equipment uncertainties. Discuss the sources of error that may have occurred in the experiment and try to explain any differences between your results and the literature values, Include suggestions to improve the investigation, Conclusion In one or two sentences, state exactly what was found from the experiment and restate the important results, The conclusion should relate to purpose of the experimentorthwest WH.M.LS, Workplace Label Guide What is a Controlled Product? ‘This legislation defines a controlled product as "a pure substance or mixture that meets or exceeds criteria for inclusion in one or more of the WHMIS hazard classes", Workplace Labels Ia controlled product is transferred at the worksite to other containers, you may need to apply a workplace label, ‘This label must provide: (1), Product Identification (2), Information for safe handling (3). A statement indicating that the MSDS is available. These labels may be in the language of ch Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) ‘You should have an up-to-date MSDS on file for every controlled product you have on your premises. These MSDS should always be consulted when making your workplace labels. W.H.MLLS. Hazard Classes & Divisions COOOD , O® CLASS A: CLASS B: : CLASS D; CLASS D: CLASS D: CLASSES CLASS Fi CASAS scutasa “Coaeng’ Stason bvsion2 —SwsoNs—Careite —Sergerout Male Maledos——Micteio&—Blohezadour «Material Reactive ‘Courng Causing Other infectious | Mote, Inmodicle & Toxic Eectt Material Serous Tote Etoct Ri. 1 2. May irritate skin and eyes 3. Flamimable material 4. Corrosive material 5. Possible carcinogen’ 6 Maybe fatal or cause blindness if swallowed 7. May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption Precautionary Statements 1. Avoid contact wth skin and eyes 2, Wear rubber gloves, eye protection, and/or protective clothing First Aid Measures 1, Ieontacts skin or eyes flush with water 2, inhaled and breathing is dificult, provide oxygen. 3. Uf swallowed, wash out mouth with water and call doctor Disclaimer: Thi ist uns created using a varity of sources andthe best information available fo date. The products on this evlist reflect Northwest Scientfe Supply Ltd. current chemical isting. A Material Safety Data sheet should always be used in conjunction with the above information. Assure every chemical to be hazardous unless you know otherwise. Proper solely apparel including chemically resistant aprons, appropriate gloves ond eye protection should always be worn by persons handling any chemical products, Proper clean laboratory methods should apply fo the usage of alt chemicals whether controlled under the WHALLS, regulations or not By supplying these labels Northwest Scentfc Supply Ltd, shall not be held lable fr any damage cor axiary resulting from contact with the product to which these labels are applied. Undate *9/88Error analysis in chemistry \ AA large part of work in studying Chemistry is based on scientific evidence, accumulated through laboratory work. Inherent in all such work are certain assumptions and errors. An essential part of interpreting scientific data is therefore an ability to consider the extent to which a certain result may be compromised by the specific errors present, Broadly the types of error which arise in chemistry experiments are: ‘Systematic errors (determinate) + These errors are due to identificble causes, + They are likely to give results which are consistently too high or consistently too low * Sources of systematic errors can usually be identified e.g. solubility of a gas when collected over water © Systematic errors can in principle be eliminated or at least ameliorated by ‘modifications to the experiment Random errors (indeterminate) + These errors gonerally arise from the limit of accuracy of the apparatus, «+ They arise from fluctuations that cause about half the measurements to be too high and about half to be too low. ‘© Sources of random errors cannot always be identified. Possible sources: a) observational. e.g. reading burette, judging a colour change ) environmental ¢.g. convection currents + Random errors can generally not be ameliorated, bet can fe rednced by taking Ke auerape © Random errors can be quantified. Ce ‘The raridom error is equivalent to the uncertainty in measurement. This is usually given by the manufacturer of the equipment and expressed as +/- a certain value. If this information is not available, a good guideline is: a) for analogue cquipment the uncertainty = -7- half the smallest scale division b) for digital equipment the uncertainty ="+/- the smallest measure (the least count) Note when the uncertainty is recorded, it should be fo the same number of significant figures as the measured value, For example a balance reading to 53.457 +/- 0.001Propagation of uncertainties ‘The overall uncertainty arising in an experiment is determined by the manner in which the data values and their associsted uncertainties are processed. This is known as, propagation of uncertainties through the calculation, ‘The principle is that the overall uncertainty is the sum of the absolute uncertainties. When values are being added or subtracted, the uncertainties associated with them mast be added together: cg. initial temperature = 20,1 H-0.1C final tomperature= 27.9 +/-0.1C => temperature change= 279-201 4/020 {In experiments where values are being multiplied or divided, and / or when there are soveral measurements made - cach with its owa uncertainty, the absolute {uncertainties must be expressed as percentage uncertainties. These can then be added together, and finally converted back into absolute uncertaintios, ©. mass reading 5.456g +/- 0.001 Ye uncertainty temperature reading = 27.8C +/.. 001/ 5.456 x 100 = 0,0183% 02c ‘uncertainty = 02 /27.8 % 100™ 0.7% total certainty ~ sum of % uncertaintics = 0.0183 +0.7 = 0.72% Soif the answer is 55.8 J, then the total uncertainty = 0.72100 x 55,8 ~0.40 ‘Therefore final answer = 55,8 +/-0, xperimentat error’ - 4 ‘The difference botween the experimental and theoretical results, a] % exor = theoretical esult Shere Snel uncertainty arising fom rndor error calculated his can then be compared withthe experimental error as described above. {1 he experimental ero is lrger than the total uncertainty, then ‘arvdom error alone canaot explain the discrepancy and systematic erore must be involved, Catrin Brown November 2006