CH1020 Liquid Project Report Guidelines - 2015

Laboratory reports, along with scientific periodicals (journals) and conferences, are
a primary means by which research is communicated among scientists. The
scientific community has evolved a standard for formatting technical writing that
differs in fundamental ways from other forms of writing. Good scientific writing
allows the reader to quickly understand, critically assess and replicate your
research in an unbiased manner. In addition to scientific knowledge and good
laboratory technique, it is essential for a rewarding and productive scientific career.
We are committed to providing you with guidelines and practice opportunities to
develop your skill in this important area.
These guidelines cover many of the key elements of a standard scientific report. The
ACS Style Guide provides more detailed information and is available in print1 or
online2 via the WPI library. For additional guidance, contact your laboratory
instructor or visit WPIs Writing Center, which has many resources that you may
find helpful. (http://www.wpi.edu/academics/cxc/writing-center.html), including
two tutors specifically designated to assist with this report.
Required Sections of the Lab Report, in this order:
1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents (Second page)
3. Abstract
4. Introduction
5. Materials and Methods
6. Results and Discussion
7. References
8. Data Tables
9. Figures
General Formatting Instructions:
Times New Roman or Cambria font, 11 or 12 point size
Margins 1.25" left, 1" top, right, and bottom
Page numbers bottom-center, with title page number suppressed
Two paragraph formatting styles are acceptable:
1. First line indented, with no extra spacing between paragraphs;
2. First line not indented, with extra spacing between paragraphs (preferred)
Titles of the major sections, tables and figures must be written in title format
(first letter of each word capitalized) in boldface and one font size larger than
body text.
Sub-section titles must be written in italics, one font size larger than body text,
All section, sub-section, table and figure titles must be on the same page as the
text or material they designate. (i.e. no titles at the bottom of one page with the
text starting on the next page).


Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation and Style:
Consistent use of correct grammar, spelling and punctuation is expected. The
ACS Style Guide1,2 provides much useful information on this.
For spelling, do NOT rely on MS Words spell-check function; use a dictionary.
Most text, especially Materials and Methods, should be written in passive third
person and past tense, not first person or active voice. For example:
Correct: "Sodium chloride (0.1542 g) was weighed and transferred to a 10-
mL volumetric flask."
Incorrect: "We weighed 1.00 g sodium chloride and then transferred it to a
10-mL volumetric flask."
Sentences should not begin with numbers. Instead of "0.5 g of sodium chloride
was added..." you should write, "sodium chloride (0.5 g) was added..."
With the exception of standard units (see Number and Unit Format below), all
abbreviations must be defined the first time they are used (e.g. Infrared (IR)).
Number and Unit Format:
Report all your measurements and numerical results in proper significant
figures as described in your chemistry textbook3.
Common units should be abbreviated, for example: mL for milliliter, C for
degrees Celsius, mm for millimeters. The ACS Style Guide1,2 has an exhaustive
list of unit abbreviations.
Decimal numbers smaller than 1 should be written with a preceding 0. For
example: 0.5 mL rather than .5 mL.
When writing a numerical result, there should be a space between the numeral
and the unit. For example: 0.5 mL, not 0.5mL.
Define all variables used in equations (e.g. PV=nRT, where P=pressure in atm,
V=volume in L, n=moles of gas, R=gas law constant (0.0821 Latm/molK),
T=temperature in K)
Section-specific Guidelines:
Title Page
Must include the following:
Project name: The x Project, in which x is the identity of your liquid
Names of all investigators
Course and section numbers
Date of submission
Table of Contents
Include names and page number of all sections.
Names of sections should be left aligned, page numbers right aligned.
Abstract
100 - 200 words.
Summarize the background and purpose of the project, list the methods used,
briefly state the major results, conclusions and implications of the project.
References need not be included in abstract.

Introduction
State the purpose of the experiment.
Briefly describe the experimental approach used to identify the unknown
liquid.
Give the name and structural formula or condensed structural formula of
your liquid. Refer to your chemistry textbook for more information on
structural formulas4.
Provide background information (remember to include references) on your
liquid, including common uses and toxicity.
Use and correctly cite your liquids Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) as one
reference for your compounds properties (e.g. toxicity, chemical properties).
Information from outside sources must be designated in the body text with a
superscript numeral corresponding to the reference for that source (see
References, below).
Materials and Methods
Written in narrative form, not outline, bullet list or cookbook form.
Should be written sufficiently clearly for another student to replicate what
you did without asking questions.
Each method (e.g. Boiling Point Determination, Infrared Spectroscopy)
should be described in a separate sub-section, each with its own sub-heading.
Describe precisely what you did, not just what the instructions said to do.
Include all techniques, materials (including chemicals, designated by correct
chemical name or formula), instruments/equipment (including automatic
pipettor and Infrared Spectrometer), and analytical procedures used.
Equations for all calculated results (e.g. molar mass, vapor pressure) should
be explicitly shown along with an example calculation.
Results and Discussion
Results of each experiment should be provided in a separate section with its
own sub-heading.
Data Tables and Figures (see below) that contain data should be clearly
indicated by Table or Figure number within the text. (e.g. Data for multiple
trials of the vapor pressure of liquid X are shown in Table 1 or Based on
multiple trials (see Table 1), the vapor pressure of liquid X is 100 kPa at
25C)
State results as quantitatively as possible (e.g. solubility < 0.10 g/mL). Avoid
subjective statements (e.g. not very soluble).
If an experiment was run multiple times, clearly state your experimental
precision by including the average and standard deviation of all trials.
Indicate which, if any, liquids can be ruled out by each experiments results.
Examples of important information for some experiments (Note: these are
just some examples of information you should include for some sections)
What was the measured density of your liquid, in g/mL? In addition to the
measured density of your liquid, can you eliminate any of the known
liquids from further consideration as the identity of your unknown?


What were the results of your quantitative solubility measurements, in g
solute per mL of liquid? What do you conclude about the polarity or non-
polarity of your liquid?
How well does the spectrum of your unknown compare with that of the
known liquid? What are the major features of the infrared spectrum?
What functional group is/are indicated by the spectrum (frequencies)?
Include a table displaying the averaged results for each property you
measured for the unknown liquid, the presumptive known liquid (where
tested) and the published values of the presumptive known.
References
There should be a minimum of 3 (three) references. Wikipedia does not
count. The MSDS for your liquid should be one reference you use.
Should be numbered sequentially with Arabic numerals.
Examples of a book, a journal article and a website:
1. Le Couteur, P.; Burreson, J. Napoleons Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed
History; Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam: New York, 2003; pp 3247. (Book)

2. Klingler, J. Influence of Pretreatment on Sodium Powder. Chem. Mater.

2005, 17, 27552768. (Journal Article)
3. ACS Publications Division Home Page. http://pubs.acs.org (accessed Nov 7,
2004). (Website)

Formatting other types of references, can be found in The ACS Style Guide1,2.
Data Tables
Each table must be identified with a unique Arabic numeral and title.
All tables should be referenced by number in the text of your report.
As much as possible, averaged results (including standard deviations), rather
than every data point, should be presented.
Do not split tables across pages. The entire table, including column and row
labels, must be on the same page as its title.
Figures
Must be identified with a unique Arabic numeral and title.
Includes drawings, any graphs and the IR spectrum.
All Figures should be referenced by number in the text of your report.
x- and y-axes of all graphs must be labeled with a title, units and numbers.

References:
1. Coghill, A.M.; Garson, L.R., Eds. The ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication
of Scientific Information; Oxford University Press: New York, 2006.
2. Coghill, A.M.; Garson, L.R., Eds. The ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication
of Scientific Information; Oxford University Press: New York, 2006.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bk-2006-STYG.ch014
3. Tro, N. J. Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 3rd Edition; Prentice Hall: Upper
Saddle River, NJ; 2013; p. 20-25.
4. Tro, N. J. Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 3rd Edition; Prentice Hall: Upper
Saddle River, NJ; 2013; p. 955.



Rubric for Lab Reports

Item
Format1
Adherence

Criteria
All#sections#present,#labeled#and#ordered#correctly
Correct#spelling,#punctuation,#grammar#and#style
Correct#number#format#and#units

Abstract

Appropriate#length
Includes#background,#purpose,#methods,#results,#conclusions/implications

Introduction

Clearly#stated#purpose
Identity#and#structure#of#unknown#liquid
Background#information#on#unknown#liquid#(e.g.#other#names,#use,#toxicity)
Clear,#concise#description#of#experimental#approach

Materials1and1
Methods

Narrative#form
Complete#listing#of#materials#and#equipment
Clear,#thorough#description#of#protocols#and#procedures
Explicitly#defined#calculations,#including#example#calculation

Results1and1
Discussion

Correct#significant#figures
Precision#of#results#clearly#quantified
Includes#discussion#of#liquids#ruled#out#by#the#data
Data#for#known#&#unknown#liquids#from#all#experiments#clearly,#correctly#summarized.
IR#spectrum#for#unknown#and#known#liquid,#major#features#therein#correctly#presented
Table#comparing#properties#of#unknown#&#known#samples,#published#properties#of#known

Quality1of1
Experiments

Results#of#boiling#&#freezing#points,#density#&#IR#spectrum#for#known#liquid#shown
Standard#deviation#boiling#point#and#density#measurements##2%#of#mean
Uncertainty#of#solubility#measurements#<##0.1#g/mL
Accuracy:#Measured#properties#of#unknown#are#within##20%#of#known#sample.

References

Information#from#outside#sources#properly#cited
References#correctly#formatted

Tables1and1
Figures

Correctly#formatted#and#labeled
Clear#and#Neat

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