Prelab Guidelines for our 1st Laboratory Experiment. 

Link to sample prelab write up and lab slide are located under the "Chem 102 files" tab at the top right of this page

Before you come to lab, please do the following:

1. Read the entire experiment 2 in our lab manual. 

2. Read the Sample Lab Notebook Entry

2. 1. Read the lab slide that is located under the "Chem 102 Files" tab on this website.

   2. . The lab slides have helpful notes for the experiment and occasionally point out a typo in the lab manual.
      Overall:
      Part A - you work with each ion in a separate test tube
      Part B - all ions in the same test tube
      Part C - start with only your unknown solution. I will give this to you. You will have 1, 2, or 3 ions in your unknown. 

3. Prepare you prelab writeup:

   1. Write, in ink, in your laboratory notebook (the notebook with duplicate pages) the title of the experiment.

      • Make sure to place the cardboard divider between the duplicate page 1 and page 2 when writing notes. Y

      • You cannot erase anything written on the duplicate sheet, which is why you use pen when writing in this notebook. 

      • If you make a mistake, cross it out with a single line through the mistake. Do not use white out!

   2. At the top of the page, write

      • the purpose of this experiment.

      • helpful terms 

      • experiment flow chart.

   3. Divide the next page into 2 columns

      • write procedures for part A in the first column.

      • Title the column on the right "Observations". You will write the observations of part A of this experiment.

   4. Divide the next full page into three sections for parts B and C.

      • Title the first column "Procedures Part B", write the procedures of the experiment.

      • Title the middle column "Observations Part B". This column will be used to write observations of part B.

      • Title the last column "Observations Part C". This column will be used to write observations on the experiment of part C (the same procedures as part B, but with an unknown solution).

Use notes and abbreviations. You do not need to write in complete sentences. In fact, I discourage it. Only write down what you are actually doing. Include chemical formulas, volumes, molarities, and make note when you are asked to observe something. Write enough details so you can complete the experiment without looking in the lab manual. 

For our first experiment, copy the procedural notes exactly as I have them on the sample notebook entry that is located under the "Chem 102 Files" tab on this website.

 You may add small details if necessary.

You may use as many pages for this prelab as you want.

This is the first of several weeks of unknown experiments. Each week, you will learn what is most helpful in preparing your prelab. You will be able to improve your prelab notes each week. The best prelab is easy to read, written large enough so you have plenty of room for observations, and allows you to easily pick out the solutions and volumes needed. Consider highlighting chemical formulas, volumes, and molarities. It is also hepful to write the procedures in one color ink (maybe black) and the observations in another color ink (maybe blue). This makes it easy to decipher between the two. It also makes it easy to see if you had to add any additional details to the procedures during the prelab lecture or during the experiment itself. 

 Please spend enough time on this prelab so you are prepared for lab. If you do not understand the directions you write, you will run out of time during lab. Please come to office hours to get help writing lab notes or understanding the procedures in the lab manual.