Chem prac report

[MNM101]

How would you structure one and what are the steps in writing a prac report? I've done a sac were we had to do a prac report but because I've never really been exposed to doing one I did quite badly, so if anyone knows how to do one and what teachers look for in each section it'd be great. 😄

[MightyCookie]

I'm not sure to what extent u need to know or which subject the report is specified to--- it's always best to make sure by asking your teacher b/c i know reports for subjects like chemistry and psychology differ.

That being said, this is how I've been taught to do a PRAC REPORT-- in specific relation to chem

Somewhat Basic Structure:
--> Title/ Date, Name, Partner-Group
--> Aim
--> Hypothesis : I'm not sure why, but my Chem teacher told us it isn't necessary for CHEM
-->Apparatus/Materials
--> Method
        - do not use 'my group' ,'our group' etc, keep it third person e.g. The pipette was then used to deliver the aliquot... etc.
-->Results
       -Include your results
       -Include Any Calculations
--> Discussion
       -Discuss Results/Relation to Aim
       -How any calculations would benefit/how did you "calculate" them... Stoic processes, mole ratios.. etc. Keep this as brief as possible.
       - Errors that had caused (iff) underestimation/overestimation in your own results (depending on your own results and experiment)
       - Other Errors (Both Random & Systematic)- make sure to discuss effects of this e.g. lower % or higher %?
       - Evaluation of experiment ((Quite important DO NOT FORGET! - I forgot and it cost me a few marks)) Teachers look for any ways the experiment can be changed to improve results, e.g. By repeating the titration a number of times, a more accurate result can be produced. --I would normally think of three different way to improve results--
--> Questions
      -You are sure to be given questions: And normally, the answers are placed after the discussion; If u have a question that is answered previously in prac report, just put "refer to blahblahblah"
-->Conclusion
      -Answer the Aim, does the experiment give you the results you need? Make conclusion as brief, normally Hypothesis would be answered to relating to results and discussion.

ALSO, remember to write your report as if a stranger needed to do a similar experiment/analysis. So teach them how! 
Hope that helps~!
     

[Rishi97]

wow...thanks for your post MightyCookie. It's helped me sooo much

[MightyCookie]

wow...thanks for your post MightyCookie. It's helped me sooo much

Glad to help Rishi! You're welcome 

[hobbitle]

Posting so I can find this on tapatAlk later

[hobbitle]

Hey peeps,

In the last prac we did in Chem Fundamentals (none of us had any lab experience before), our reports were really rushed as they hadn't told us that we could pre-write them or anything.

I want to pre-write mine for next week but they said something about if the experiment is organic chemistry, you have to write everything out e.g. 'the sample was measured (4.0g) and then prepared on a slide....' or whatever, but that if it was a non-organic prac, you could just write "refer to lab manual" or something.

Is this standard procedure for chem prac reports or just the UoM way?  What *exactly* should I write for a non-organic prac method?  Out next prac is on soil salinity.

Cheers all.