Laboratory Notebook Guidelines

(10 points total)

Include the title of each experiment, your name, date, and lab partner(s) if any.

Include the title for each section underlined clearly.

1. Aim (0,5 pt)

Write down the specific purpose(s) of your experiment. They are usually stated at the beginning
of each chapters. Example:
A. To determine the melting point of acetophenetidin
B. To determine %recovery of acetophenetidin

2. Reaction (0,5 pt)

Draw out the organic reaction for each part of the experiment that has one. No need to show
the mechanism.

3. Procedure (1 pt)
Split the notebook page down the middle. On the left side write the experimental procedure you
will be performing (Before the start of lab). You do not need to copy the procedure in the manual
word for word. It is important to keep procedure steps concise but also not vague (everyone
should be able to reproduce the experiment from your procedure). This should not be done in
full sentences but rather in bullet points. For example:
Add 2.0 g p-phenetidine sample to a beaker with 38 mL of dilute HCl
When you are in lab, use the right side to record what you actually did during lab and your
observations. Write down temperatures at which the reactions took place, solvents used, exact
quantities of reagents you added, initial colors of the reagents. Note any color changes,
precipitation, gas evolution, etc any comments that you think will aid a laboratory scientist to
duplicate your work.
4. Data Calculations (1 pt)
In this section you need to record any calculations you perform on your data. For example:
calculation of mmols of compounds, theoretical yields, %yields, conversions using densities, etc.
Important values should be boxed or circled so that they are easy to see. Each type of calculation
should be demonstrated only once.

5. Data Table (1 pt)

All important data should be summarized neatly in this table. If you have found a melting point,
compare it to the literature value. Values such as melting point, amount of product (crude and
recrystallized) in grams, % yield, RI value, % of a mixture, and anything of a similar nature that is
found during the lab should be in this table.
Example Table:
Compound Mass (g) % yield Melting Point Melting Point % Recovery
Experiment (C) Literature (C)
A 1.56 89 128.3-130.5 133-136 -
B 1.25 72 130.2-132.4 133-136 -
C 0.32 - 132.2-135.5 133-136 56

6. Discussion (2 pts)
This should be no longer than 1 page and written in full sentences. Be concise but do not leave
anything out. Please include:
Your data, how your results compare to what you expected/literature values and what it
means.
Sources of error in the experiment both quantitative and qualitative. Be specific. Human
error is not a specific source of error. I spilled some of my solution while transferring it
to a beaker is a specific quantitative source of error.
7. Conclusion (1 pt)
There is a specific purpose for the lab (which will be stated at the beginning of the chapter of an
experiment), be sure to say whether or not you succeeded. A general conclusion would look
something like this: I made product X, based on Y melting point data, which is close to the
literature value of Z. The percent yield was H%, which means our experiment succeeded / failed.
Here you should just restate the most important numbers from the discussion section without a
long explanation about them.

8. Post-Lab Questions (2 pts)

These will come directly out of the lab manual and can be found at the end of most experiments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If there are several parts for a chapter of experiment. You can always split the parts in each
sections. For example:
1. Aim
A. To determine %recovery of Acetophenetidin amide synthesis
B. To determine %recovery of Acetophenetidin ether synthesis
2. Reaction
I. Amide Synthesis of Acetophenetidin write down the title of the part
(Reaction)
II. Ether Synthesis of Acetophenetidin
(Reaction)
3. Procedure
I. Amide Synthesis of Acetophenetidin write down the title of the part
(Procedure) (Observation)
II. Ether Synthesis of Acetophenetidin
(Procedure) (Observation)
III. Choosing a Recrystallization Solvent
(Procedure) (Observation)
 IV. Recrystallization
(Procedure) (Observation)
4. Data Calculation
I. Amide Synthesis of Acetophenetidin write down the title of the part
(calculation)
II. Ether Synthesis of Acetophenetidin
(calculation)
IV. Recrystallization
(calculation)
You do not need to split parts for Data Table, Discussion, Conclusion sections!

Other Important Rules:

1. Points will be lost if a cell phone is out or for any unsafe practices during lab time.
2. Your notebooks will be collected on the days indicated on the syllabus. It is your responsibility
to keep up with all experiments and post or pre lab questions that go with them.
3. All entries should be neat (readable).
4. Try to learn as much as you can.
5. Last but not the least, have fun and enjoy every moments in the laboratory!