The Notebook – Making Sure The Numbers Add Up

At PSU, it is required to use and keep a notebook. This notebook will be used both in the preparation of the experiment, and during the experiment itself. We will focus on how to use the notebook in the prepara- tion phase of an experiment. In chapter 4.4 we will discuss the use of the notebook during the experiment.

When stepping into the lab, your notebook should contain the following:

1. A title and a balanced reaction scheme, if a synthesis is planned. If not, the relevant chemical structures of the compounds of interest should be shown.
2. A flow-diagram that outlines the experiment, where you have included the most relevant information.
3. A table or overview that shows all chemicals handled, and their risk and hazard statements.
4. A synthesis table that shows the quantities of the reagents/reactants that you plan to use, with room to fill in the quantities you actually used.
5. A table that shows the properties of the reagents/reactants and reaction solvents used in the procedure.

Table 2. Example of a synthesis table for reagent(s), reactant(s) and product(s)

* The values for benzyl alcohol is based on the procedure, that states that a yield of 65.6% is expected.

The table for physical properties is used not only for the reagent(s), reactant(s) and product(s), but also reaction solvent, work-up chemicals and others. This table is very handy in the lab, as the physical properties of the chemicals play a large part in the work-up of any reaction.

Table 3. Example of a table for physical data