Notebook

Prelab and Lab Report

Prelab

Include the following sections in your prelab:

Report

The Chemistry Guide for this course presents a detailed description of each section of the lab report.
For an example of a prelab and report for an experimental project, click here.

Table 1. Sections to include in the lab report
1. Results of the synthesis, the recrystallization and of the analytical methods for the preparation of PABA
2. Discussion – maximum 1500 words, font Times New Roman 11 points, 1.5 line spacing
  1. Introduce the discussion
  2. Discuss the synthesis and recrystallization of p-aminobenzoic acid (part C)
  3. Discuss the analysis of p-aminobenzoic acid. Treat each analytical method separately. 
  4. Evaluate the experimental errors of the synthesis and suggest possible improvements to these errors. In other words, find one experimental error in the synthesis and provide a recommendation (modification, improvement) that could be made to the experiment to eliminate or decrease the impact of this error.
3. Conclusion – maximum 200 words, font Times New Roman 11 points, 1.5 line spacing
  1. Brief reiteration of the results and the conclusions relating them to the objectives of the experiment. (Was PABA synthesized? Was it pure?)
  2. Invitation to broaden the debate. Suggestions for future work (future directions).
4. References
5. Critical thinking questions (maybe hand-written and handed in as a supplementary document)
  1. In the Introduction, Figure 3 presents a reaction sequence that was used for the synthesis of PABA. Why was the amino group protected?
  2. During the synthesis of PABA, what is the p-acetamidobenzoic acid : HCl molar ratio?  Why?
  3. A molecule containing an amino group and a carboxyl group exists in 3 different forms depending on the pH of the aqueous solution.  Knowing that the pKa values for PABA are 2.36 and 4.92.  Calculate the pI of this molecule.  Draw the structures of PABA that predominate above, below and at the pI.  Among these structures, identify the zwitterion.  Draw the chemical equilibrium that exists between the 3 structures.
  4. How does the solubility of PABA changes depending on the pH. At what pH is PABA most soluble? Least soluble?

Evaluation criteria

Table 2. Evaluation of criteria for the lab report
Note that marks may be adjusted to take into consideration the involvement of each team member as indicated on the Degree of Involvement form: "[The] involvement, expressed as a percentage, will constitute a basis for the individual mark given in the final evaluation of this project. If a consensus is not obtained, you professor may ask you to present your points of view."
�quipe / Team :Pond�ration
Value (%)		Note
Mark
Description
Contenu scientifique et rigueur / Scientific content and thoroughness (80%)

1.  Exactitude du contenu scientifique / Accuracy of scientific information70

a.  Objectifs / Objectives
b.  Synth�se  et recristallisation / Synthesis and recrystallization
c.  Analyse / Analysis 
d.  Discussion, conclusion, erreurs exp�rimentales / Discussion, conclusions, experimental errors
2.   Clart�, pr�cision, coh�rence et organisation / Clarity, precision, coherence/unity and organization10
Forme / Form (20%)
3.  Qualit� de la pr�sentation (aspect soign�, lisibilit�, organisation, format du texte, tableaux, figures, graphiques, etc. ) /Presentation quality (neatness, legibility, organization, format of text, tables, figures, graphs, etc.)10
4.  M�diagraphie : style, format, cr�dibilit�, pr�sence des sources appropri�es / Referencing: style, format, credibility, presence of appropriate sources10
Qualit� de la langue -  0.1 de p�nalit� par faute sur l'ensemble des �valuations (sera retranch� du total)
Language quality - 0.1 mark per mistake on all of the evaluations taken as a whole (will be taken off from the total mark)		Max -10%
Autre / Other

TOTAL100