Lab Notebook Guidelines
Lab Notebook Format
Your lab notebook is an important record of the experimental work done in the lab. Below is
a list of information that should be regularly recorded in your lab notebook. Information
should be recorded in pen only! Lab notebooks will be checked and graded periodically
for completion.
Sections 1-6: complete before coming to lab
Section 7: complete during lab
Section 8: complete once characterization is done
1. Title and date of experiment
2. Complete table of reagents including Lewis structure, molar mass, density for
liquids (see general format below)
3. List of safety considerations for all reagents and solvents
4. Reaction diagram for each step, if applicable (see below).
5. Calculate theoretical yield based on the limiting reagent
6. Detailed procedure for the experiment in the form of a bulleted list of steps with
specific mass/volume of reagents used. You must write the procedure in your
notebook even if a procedure is given in the lab manual.
7. Observations recorded in real time (color changes, TLC results, mistakes, etc.)
8. Product yields, characterization data, Rf values (Melting Point, FTIR, TLC), etc. For
FTIR list all major stretches. You can also paste copies of spectra directly into lab
notebook.
Data Table Format
Compound’s Structure Molecular Melting Density (if Hazards
Name Weight Point or applicable)
Boiling
Point
The properties and hazards for each compound can be found in the Merck index, Sigma-
Aldrich catalog, or [Link]/ncsu/ehs (has the complete Safety Data Sheet
information). You can also look the compounds up on Wikipedia.
Lab Notebook Rules
1. Lab notebooks must be bound (loose leaf or spiral notebooks are not acceptable).
2. Always write in pen (blue or black). If a mistake is made, draw a line through the
mistake and re-write it. Do not use white out or scribble the writing out.
3. Number each page of the notebook.
4. Do not skip pages in the notebook. Reserve the first two pages of the notebook for
the Table of Contents.
5. Write out each step of the procedure in the lab notebook before coming to the lab.
6. Record all data in the lab notebook as you complete the experiment.
7. Keep the lab notebook neat and organized. All information must be legible.
8. Never remove pages from the lab notebook.
9. Include reaction diagrams, flow charts, and even drawings of glassware or methods
used in the experiment.
10. All calculations should be shown in the lab notebook.
Lab Notebook Submission
Lab notebooks will be graded for each experiment. Students must upload the pages of lab
notebook to the Moodle course site for each experiment in the links provided. The following
guidelines must be followed for Moodle submissions.
Use a scanning app (CamScanner etc.) instead of a photo
All pages must be scanned in a vertical orientation
All pages must be in a single document
Scans must be legible
