Laboratory Notebook Requirements
CHEM 55. Quantitative Analysis
A scientist's Laboratory Notebook fulfills the following objectives:
o documenting experimental procedures, results, and discoveries attributable to the individual scientist
o providing a written account of experimental work which allows later duplication by the individual or by another worker if necessary
o establishing a legally acceptable document in support of laboratory data which may be used to resolve patent, regulatory, civil, or criminal litigation
Students in CHEM 55 will be required to maintain a Laboratory Notebook in a fashion which approaches that acceptable in a commercial laboratory. Accordingly, the following requirements will apply:
o The Lab Notebook must have sequentially numbered pages which cannot easily be removed. In addition, the notebook must have a removable duplicate of each numbered page which records a carbon copy of each written entry on the original page. The preferred type of notebook is one with quadrille rulings (so that data can be graphed; figures can be blocked out; etc.). (Examples of acceptable notebooks are: National Brand #43-647; #43-644; #43-649)
o The first two pages of the Lab Notebook should be set aside and clearly marked as the "Table of Contents". These should be filled in with appropriate page references throughout the semester. The carbon copies of these pages should be retained until the end of the semester.
o Pages must be used consecutively, starting with page 3, for laboratory records.
o All entries must be made in ink. Erasures are not permitted. If a mistake is made, draw a single line through the erroneous material and make a corrected entry immediately following.
o All data are to be recorded directly into the Notebook. Recording of original data on loose pieces of paper is to be avoided. If data must be obtained on separate sheets of paper (e.g., the printout of a laboratory instrument) the loose paper must be cemented into the Notebook on the same day it was taken and the Notebook entry should refer to and identify the loose paper which has been cemented in. A photocopy of the same loose paper must be cemented to the copy page.
o Every page must be titled, dated and signed by the student at the bottom of each page, and at the end of each day's entries.
o Keep all data orderly, legible and sufficiently well-labeled as to be clear to anyone. Do not crowd data; there are many more pages in the notebook than you will use. Each entry should have a label or units (e.g., M, mg., mg/mL, etc).
o Begin each day's entries on a new page. If it is desired to start a new entry on a new page when the previous page has not been entirely filled, draw a diagonal line across the unused portion of the page. Leaving a page blank for later use is absolutely forbidden.
o NEVER record data or observations obtained on a subsequent day on a page previously used for a prior date!
o Carbon copies of each day's work must be turned in to the Lab Instructor before leaving the lab. Each page should include the copy of the date and signatures on each of the original pages.
o For each standardization or analysis the results are to be summarized in the notebook as follows:
On one page, include:
1. The date and title of the analysis
2. All pertinent data, e.g., weights, titration volumes, etc.
3. The calculated results for each sample and the average result
4. The range and parts per thousand range
On the next page, include:
1. A brief resumé of the method used; a few sentences describing the method
used; the principal reagents, etc.
2. Chemical equations for all reactions involved in the analysis
3. Example calculations using data for one sample
o Deviations from the above specified procedures will be rare; must be documented in the Notebook; and must be approved by the Lab Instructor, with the Instructor's signature and date recorded where the deviation is documented.