The Importance of the Lab Notebook
** Excerpts from Cornell General Chemistry 2080
The Laboratory Notebook
A lab notebook is not simply a convenient scratchpad for intermediate results. It is a legal document chronicling the step-by-step procedures, calculations, insights and conclusions that will ( hopefully) lead to new breakthroughs. As such, it is imperative that lab notebooks be maintained in a timely fashion and that all entries be clearly dated and made in ink, not pencil. In the courtroom, results that are not documented in a notebook have little weight.
The first page of your notebook should be reserved for a Table of Contents. On this page, you should prepare a table with three headings. Date, Experiment title, and Pages (ie. 1-14).
Each experiment should have a Title, Date, and a brief statement of the purpose of the lab, followed by a general summary of the experimental procedure ( ~ 1 paragraph in length).
Each step of the procedure should be written down, in detail, and the results/observations recorded. Where appropriate, add diagrams/pictures, also note any instrument settings.
Calculations should be performed directly in your notebook. DO NOT perform draft work on scratch paper to “ keep your notebook neat”. If you make a mistake, cross it out with a single line so that your writing remains legible - NO OBLITERATION ! Do not use correction fluid, erasable pens or pencils.
Your writing should be clear, complete, and organized. Remember that clarity of writing is a reflection of clarity of thinking. Be sincere and brief. Students who are unfamiliar with scientific writing sometimes adopt a stilted, grandiose style which may appear “scientific.” Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, and especially avoid the use of pronouns. Pay attention to the presentation and organization of your work. Be consistent in the use of numbers, sig figs, names, abbreviations, symbols, spelling, and punctuation and tense. ALWAYS proofread your work before submission.
Formal Conclusions:
Typed and uploaded to Turnitin.