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IB Chemistry - How To Write A Lab Report: General

The document provides guidance on writing lab reports for the IB Chemistry program. It outlines the typical sections required in a lab report, including an aim, introduction with background and hypothesis, procedure, data and observations, results and calculations, and conclusion. The introduction defines the research question and variables, while the procedure allows others to replicate the experiment. Data should include measurements and uncertainties. Results involve calculations and manipulations of data. The conclusion discusses whether the aim or hypothesis was supported and evaluates errors and limitations. Lab reports are graded based on criteria like titling and labeling, collection and recording of data, treatment of results, evaluations and conclusions.

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Nikos Papaioannou
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190 views3 pages

IB Chemistry - How To Write A Lab Report: General

The document provides guidance on writing lab reports for the IB Chemistry program. It outlines the typical sections required in a lab report, including an aim, introduction with background and hypothesis, procedure, data and observations, results and calculations, and conclusion. The introduction defines the research question and variables, while the procedure allows others to replicate the experiment. Data should include measurements and uncertainties. Results involve calculations and manipulations of data. The conclusion discusses whether the aim or hypothesis was supported and evaluates errors and limitations. Lab reports are graded based on criteria like titling and labeling, collection and recording of data, treatment of results, evaluations and conclusions.

Uploaded by

Nikos Papaioannou
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IB Chemistry – How to write a lab report

General
The IB program requires that 24% of our class time we spend doing some things related
to practical work. The laboratory work will consist of a variety of activities, most will
require the entire double period; some will take a few days to complete. For some
experiments complete instructions will be given; for others you will have to plan part or
all of the experiment yourself. Usually, you will be working in a group of 2-3 people, but,
occasionally you will be on your own. For most experiments you will write complete
reports. Some reports may involve only collection and analysis of data and writing of a
brief conclusion. You will always be told what is expected of you for each experiment.

Laboratory Notebooks
Your lab book is where the raw data is recorded at the time of the experiment. Your
report will then be written up using Microsoft Word and submitted on the due date.

Reports of laboratory work


When you are writing in your lab report try to keep the thought in mind: ‘could someone
else understand what I am doing, observing, calculating, writing etc’. A scientist’s report
is the way that scientific discovery is communicated to the rest of the world.
The following is an outline of the various elements of a complete report. For each
specific report you will need to include some or all of these.

1. Experiment #, the date, and title of the experiment (this is required for every
experiment).
2. Aim: a short (one to two sentences) statement of the purpose of the experiment,
preferably written in your own words. (this is required for every experiment)
3. Introduction: this section should always begin with a clearly stated Research
Question. The Research Question should not just be a repeat of the general problem
provided by the teacher. Rather, the Research Question should indicate what specific
aspect of the general problem you will be investigating.
Example
Poor research question: What factors affect rates of reaction?
Better research question: Are heterogeneous catalysts as effective as homogeneous
catalysts in the decomposition of 6 % hydrogen peroxide?
The next step is to provide the Background to the problem you are trying to solve.
Specifically, this is the theory one should know to understand the experiment. The
Background will also lead to, or justify a prediction of what you think will happen in the
experiment, and it is called the hypothesis: a testable statement about what you think is
going to happen when you measure one variable and you change another.
This leads to the last part of an Introduction. You need to specifically mention the
variables that you will hold fixed and the variables that you will change and measure
(both independent and dependent – i.e the same ones from your hypothesis).

4. Procedure: this section provides an outline of how you intend to carry out the
experiment. It may take some practice before you will be comfortable as to what details
to include. The most important details are things like mass, volume, and concentrations of
chemicals and solutions, the type of glassware and equipment used, and any safety
precautions. These details not only provide relevant experimental information but also
show how you are keeping certain variables fixed, while changing others. Where
appropriate, it is important to outline why one approach is taken versus another. Keep in
mind to mention clearly what specific data will be recorded and how often the
measurements will be replicated. Write the procedure so that you, or someone else with
some science background, could perform the experiment.
The IB calls the sections 3 an 4 of the report Design.

5. Data and Observations: record all relevant data and observations. Report any changes
in procedure or unusual conditions. All numerical data, tables, and graphs should be
clearly identified and labeled. You should record all observed data – not just calculated
results. Correct units and significant figures must be used for all data. In addition, you
should indicate the level of uncertainty for each measurement. Also note that
experimental observations or details are both qualitative and quantitative.

6. Results and Calculations: results are different than data. Results are what happens to
the data after you do a calculation or plot a graph. They are what ‘results’ after you
manipulate the data. Your presentation of the results might be in the form of a table, a
graph, or maybe a chart. How you present the results will depend on the experiment –
these are part of the skills that you are required to learn. All tables, graphs etc should be
clearly identified and labeled. Furthermore it is necessary to show how you manipulated
the data i.e what sort of calculations did you do. It is also important to calculate and
present the percent uncertainty for each of the measurements made. A brief explanation
of what you are doing at each stage of the calculation is just as important as the
calculation itself. Finally, where several similar calculations are needed, show one
example and give the results of the others.
The IB call the section 5 and 6 of the report Data Collection and Processing .

7. Conclusion and Discussion: This is the section where you draw conclusions about the
experiment as it relates to your aim and hypothesis. Any calculated results should be
compared to values from the literature (i.e. accepted values from professional
laboratories) where possible. This section should include a discussion of errors, as well as
a consideration of the limitations of the experiment and suggestions for improvement.

In summary this section should include:


• Conclusion about your aim or hypothesis
• Evaluation of errors and limitations to the experiment
• Suggestions for improvements
The IB calls this section of the report Conclusion and Evaluation.
Grading
Grades for the written reports will be given according to the five criteria listed in the ‘IB
Chemistry score form. Each of the criteria is worth a maximum of six points. Many
reports will be graded on several but not all of the criteria. Some reports will be graded
on all criteria.
At the end of the course, your two top scores for each of five criteria will be used to
determine your IB internal assessment lab grade. The five criteria include the three
criteria that have been graded in your reports as well as two additional criteria. These
criteria (Manipulative, and Personal skills) are based on your overall performance in the
lab and how well you worked with others. Since the first three criteria are worth six
points each and each one is assessed twice and the last two criteria are worth six points
each and each one is assessed once, your final IB internal assessment lab grade will be
based on 48 points. This in turn is 24 % of your total IB grade.

Original Source: Dr.C’s website.

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