How to Write a Chemistry Lab Report

A well-written lab report is vital to success in virtually every chemistry class. If written correctly, the report will demonstrate your comprehension of the specific lab completed, as well as how the lab applies to the principles learned during the lecture. While they may seem overwhelming, lab reports all follow a set format. If you know this format, you can write a perfectly structured lab report that will impress even the most critical professor.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator
• Pencil and paper (or a computer)

Instructions

1. Make the title page, which should include the name of the experiment, your name, the names of all of your lab partners, your instructor's name, and the date you performed the experiment. The experiment name should be concise and state only the purpose of the experiment--for example, "Identifying Compounds Using Thin-layer Chromatography."

2. Write an introduction paragraph, which is a short explanation of the experiment's purpose followed by the expected outcome. Start by providing any relevant background information on the subject, the procedure and the experiment being performed. Then hypothesize the outcome and explain why you believe this will happen.

3. Write the "Materials" section by listing all equipment you used to perform the experiment. You must also include a table listing all chemicals used, along with any relevant properties or potential hazards of these chemicals.

4. Write a step-by-step procedure in the past tense detailing how you performed the experiment. You should be concise, but detailed enough that anyone wishing to replicate the experiment could easily do so.

5. Write out the data of your experiment, which encompasses anything you collected or observed during the course of the experiment. Include tables detailing the exact amounts of all reagents you used during the experiment, along with the amounts produced. This section should only include observed data, not calculations or interpretations of the data.

6. Write your "Results" section. Start by providing any calculations you used to interpret the data. It is not necessary to show all of your work; one example of each calculation followed by a table of results will suffice. Explain if this data supports your hypothesis. If it does not, theorize why your results differed and what could be improved if the experiment were performed again.

7. Write a conclusion paragraph, which should be one or two sentences summarizing the results of the lab.

8. Compile a references section by citing any references you used to prepare for the experiment (including your textbook).

Tips & Warnings

• If your data or results include large graphs or illustrations, it is acceptable to reference them in the appropriate section and attach the graphs or illustrations to the end of your lab report. Your target audience for the report should be competent students in the same class. Write so that your peers would be able to understand the experiment, but oversimplifying is unnecessary.

• Include any post-lab material assigned by your professor after the references section.

References

• CSU Bakersfield Lab Report Format
• University of Toronto On-Line Handbook

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish