8/10/2019 Guide for Practical Chemistry Reports (Rev. 2)

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Guide For Practical Chemistry Reports

Please note that this is only a guide; you should follow the specific instructions given

to you by each lecturer.

Usually, only one practical report is required per pair of students. Before starting the

first practical with a particular lecturer, do ask about the report; what is expectedfrom you what to write in the report, how many reports to submit per pair, and how

to submit the report.

! advise you to hand"write your reports rather than make use of typing. #ome

lecturers may tell you that they want hand"written reports only. $he cover may be

printed though. Bind %staple, string, binding& your paper sheets well; do not let any

loose sheet.

The Cover'ame (nd #tudent !). *f +ach #tudent

roup

$itle

)ate $he +xperiment -as )one

Title( title is a must for a practical report.

Aim$he aim of the experiment must be given in case this is not included in the title.

Introduction( practical report should consist of a short introduction. $he introduction usually

consists of information concerning the products of the experiment%s& %including their

uses& andor the use of the experiment techniques used %this part is important for

analytical chemistry&.

!nclude any relevant structures and mechanisms. #tructures are usually required for

inorganic chemistry, and mechanisms are important for organic chemistry.

Materials/eagents %!f you want, you may include the list of equipment used such as glassware

and so on.&.

ProcedureProcedures should be written in passive voice. /eagents prepared should also be

included.

8/10/2019 Guide for Practical Chemistry Reports (Rev. 2)

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Recorded Data And Calculated Data*bservations %qualitative and quantitative& should be recorded and included in the

report. 0ualitative data1 appearance %for e.g.1 colour and texture&. 0uantitative data1

measurements such as mass balance readings, burette readings and so on.

#ome extra data such a room temperature and atmospheric pressure may be required

to be recorded %usually for physical chemistry practicals&.

2ou should include important calculations and their results such as the concentration

of the prepared reagent, the yield of the product %if applicable or in the case where

this has not been asked as a question& and so on.

Questions$here will be questions to be answered for most practical sessions.

!nclude any calculations.

Analysis And Discussion$his is where you need to analyse your observations and discuss about them.

$alk about any difficulties you have encounter, sources of error and improvements.

+xplain your results if they are far from the literature value in terms of purity of the

reagents, loss of product during filtration, error made by you %such as impropermeasurement& and so on.

Conclusion (if reuired!3ere you can comment on the practical method used whether it is suitable or not.

Material "afety Data "heet (M"D"!#ome lecturers may require you to include the 4#)# of the chemicals used in the

particular practical.

#ote1 do not hesitate to ask your lecturer or the laboratory technician%s& for help

during or after your practicals. !f you encounter any difficulties concerning the report,

you may ask the lecturer for help before the report5s submission deadline.