Friday, August 28th

We competed the Copper / Iodine lab today. Remember, you are trying to confirm with all of your trials is either CuI or CuI2. You should hope to confirm the same ratio in all of your trials. For your write-up, which is due Monday, August 31, you need to follow the following format.

First, have a discussion of the theory behind the lab. This would include what the lab is trying to accomplish and how this will be accomplished. Discuss the science behind the lab procedure. This section (please label all sections) should consist of a 3 to 4 sentence paragraph. Do a good job, but get to the point. Do not discuss what you actually did while doing the lab.

Second part, the data table. This should be neatly organized showing the data from each trial. Remember to include all units of measurement. There will be no calculations done in the data table.

Third part, analysis. This is where all calculations are to be done. Make sure to perform the calculations for each individual trial. Do not average any data for this lab because every trial was different.

Fourth part, SEE's (Sources of Experimental Error) This will probably be the most scrutinized part of the lab report. This is where you really critique your results. Please discuss sources of error that would effect your outcomes. Talk about random or systematic errors that will cause you to be away from the expected one to one ratio or one to two ratio. Also, you may have different ratios from trial to trial. They may be correct (one trial 1:1, another 1:2), but the inconsistency is an error. Please never say the following in the SEE's section: (1) Human Error - you should be able to be specific about an error in the lab, do not give the lazy answer of human error. (2) "My calculations were done wrong." The do them right. Calculations are not part of the lab procedure.

Fifth part, conclusion. Please state if the purpose or intent of the lab was achieved. Give the evidence as to why or why not the purpose or intent was achieved. Also, include a statement on how you would inprove the lab, whether it be procedure or equipment, etc, to optain better results if you had the chance to do the lab over again.

Remember, you should keep all of your labs in a portfolio to present to a college or university if you pass the AP Chemistry exam in the spring. Therefore, you are not only doing this lab report for a grade in this class, but also to be critiqued by the faculty at a college or university to give you credit. So you want to do a good job and make it look professional.

Look to have our first major exam next Thursday, September 3rd. Have a good weekend.