STEPS TO WRITE A STANDARDIZED LABORATORY REPORT ACCEPTED IN MOST PLACES.

Is it hard to write a lab report? How do I go about writing one?  What are the necessary steps I have to include in my report?

We all agree that as scientists we carry out series of experiments when in different educational levels, sometimes, ranging from high school till when we decide to stop studying or to be precise when we stop performing experiments in laboratories.

During the time frame at which we perform experiments in the laboratory, we are obligated to write what we refer to as Lab reports(Laboratory reports). I used the word obligation because:

Firstly, in most high schools and colleges, the lecturers ensure the students write lab reports regularly for each experiment and secondly for graduates who carry out researches in the laboratory through experiments, they record their results well so they can get a valid research theory. Due to this reason they also write lab reports occasionally.

Today I'm going to focus on the pattern/method of writing lab reports which are acceptable in virtually most places.

This format works for all aspects of science practicals. They include the following:

1) The Cover Page

This is the first page of your lab reports. Sometimes the lecturers could give you their own preferred cover pages and at other times you might be required to come up with one yourself. But you shouldn't get worried because of that. It's a very simple thing to do.

a) Write the name of your school above.

b) Write the name of the college whose experiments you are performing.

When I say the name of the college I mean something like this e.g. College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering or College of Life and Environmental Science. Every university has different departments/colleges.

c) Next, you should signify that it is a lab report. e.g Organic Chemistry Laboratory Report.

d) The next line you should write the following: Name, ID number (only applicable if you use ID numbers), Your desk number (optional).

e) Lastly, on the cover page, you can decide to write the date of the experiment e.g. Year/Month/Day or vice versa.

N.B. - The above steps can be arranged horizontally(line after line). This will make your work look neat and more organized.

2) The next page should contain the following:

a) Title of the experiment to be performed.

b) The purpose of the experiment.

E.g. Purpose.

Then write the purpose below this.

c) Principle (or reaction equation) of the experiment.

E.g. Principle (or reaction equation).

Then write the principles below.

d) Apparatus and Equipment.

Under this subsection, you list the apparatuses, reagents, and equipment used for the experiment.

E.g. Apparatus: Test tube, beaker, buchner funnel, condensers etc.

Equipment: Refridgerator, centrifuge machine, water bath etc.

Reagents include all chemicals used during the experiment. If possible you can state the molar concentrations or grams of the reagents used to be more precise.

e) Experimental Installation.

For this subsection, not all lecturers require this but to be on the safer side for those required to do this, it could mean a drawing of the experimental apparatuses. For others, your lecturers might specify what should be done there.

f) Experimental Procedure and Phenomenon.

This will contain the steps taken during the experiment. Explanation of every single detail of how the experiment was carried out. It's also okay if you decide to a summary instead.

At this point, you are getting close to the conclusion of your lab report.

The next step will be writing the result of the experiment.

This could include the following:

1) The final equation of the reaction and its product.

2) The measurement of residues (if applicable).

3)The expected result and what your experimental result was (if applicable).

4) Any calculation that should be done with the experimental results.

And finally, you are done!

Congratulations, you just wrote one hot professional lab report.

Above is a sample document containing the explained steps. You can download and check it out.

If you have any questions you can contact us at dmllprecy@gmail.com or through the contact form below. We are here to help anytime.