Writing in Chemistry: Lab

Abstractsa W.I.D. Workshop

CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum

Saint Mary’s College of California, Spring 2015

One-Inch Margins

1 page MAX

Double-spaced

Size 12 font

Format

Past Tense

3rd Person

Passive voice

Passive voice allows you to remain in 3rd person

Format

“I am melting the ice cream.”vs.

“The ice cream melted.”

“I kick the ball.” vs.

“The ball was kicked.”

Past Tense, 3rd Person, & Passive Voice

What did you do? How? What did you find? Why important?

◦Title◦Objective◦Methodology/Principles of Chemistry

Applied / Procedure◦Results◦Discussion◦Conclusion

Abstract Outline

Title◦ Describe the goal ◦ Include the theory being tested

Objective◦ The first sentence is the objective

(goal/purpose) ◦ Try not to start with “The objective of

this experiment was…” What is the end goal? Why is this experiment done?

How do I begin?

Synthesis of a Chemical Compound: Making Alum from Aluminum

The objective of this laboratory was to prepare alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) from elemental aluminum using several synthetic techniques important in chemistry. A cleaned piece of aluminum was oxidized using aqueous potassium hydroxide under low heat, forming potassium tetrahydroxyaluminate and hydrogen gas. Upon the addition of sulfuric acid, aluminum(III) ions were formed. Gravity filtration was used to remove solid impurities. The alum was crystallized from the chilled filtrate, a mixture of aluminum(III), potassium, and sulfate ions, and isolated by suction filtration. The crystals were washed with methanol and dried by air suction.

The yield was 7.1375 g of alum (74.89%), and approximately 2.39 g (25%) of the theoretical yield was not isolated. The solubility of alum under the crystallization conditions would result in 1.14 g of alum remaining in solution, therefore 1.25 g of material was not isolated. This material could have remained on the glassware and stirring rod or could have been lost during filtration and methanol washes.

Better Example Abstract

What did you do? How? What did you find? Why important?

◦Title◦Objective◦Methodology/Principles of Chemistry

Applied / Procedure◦Results◦Discussion◦Conclusion

Abstract Outline

a BRIEF description of the procedure

◦ Assume the reader has as much (or more) experience in chemistry as you do.

◦ Mention the technique, but not details about how it was performed Ex.: Say that suction filtration was used

– but don’t describe how you assembled the apparatus or carried out the process

Methodology/Principles of Chemistry Applied / Procedure

Synthesis of a Chemical Compound: Making Alum from Aluminum 

The objective of this laboratory was to prepare alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) from elemental aluminum using

several synthetic techniques important in chemistry. A cleaned piece of aluminum was oxidized using aqueous potassium hydroxide under low heat, forming potassium tetrahydroxyaluminate and hydrogen gas. Upon the addition of sulfuric acid, aluminum(III) ions were formed. Gravity filtration was used to remove solid impurities. The alum was crystallized from the chilled filtrate, a mixture of aluminum(III), potassium, and sulfate ions, and isolated by suction filtration. The crystals were washed with methanol and dried by air suction.

The yield was 7.1375 g of alum (74.89%), and approximately 2.39 g (25%) of the theoretical yield was not isolated. The solubility of alum under the crystallization conditions would result in 1.14 g of alum remaining in solution, therefore 1.25 g of material was not isolated. This material could have remained on the glassware and stirring rod or could have been lost during filtration and methanol washes.

Better Example Abstract

What did you do? How? What did you find? Why important?

◦Title◦Objective◦Methodology/Principles of Chemistry

Applied / Procedure◦Results◦Discussion◦Conclusion

Abstract Outline

The main results of each lab, including◦ The rate law equation ◦ Kinetic constants ◦ Thermodynamic values ◦ Cell voltages

Percent error Relevant data from charts/graphs Include any numbers that directly

relate to the conclusions that you were trying to draw from your hypothesis.

Numbers to Include in Results

First or second person◦ (I, you, me, we, us, etc.)

Colloquial words for scientific terms ◦ (stuff, things, etc.)

Do NOT Include:

Synthesis of a Chemical Compound: Making Alum from Aluminum 

The objective of this laboratory was to prepare alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) from elemental aluminum using several synthetic techniques important in chemistry. A cleaned piece of aluminum was oxidized using aqueous potassium hydroxide under low heat, forming potassium tetrahydroxyaluminate and hydrogen gas. Upon the addition of sulfuric acid, aluminum(III) ions were formed. Gravity filtration was used to remove solid impurities. The alum was crystallized from the chilled filtrate, a mixture of aluminum(III), potassium, and sulfate ions, and isolated by suction filtration. The crystals were washed with methanol and dried by air suction.

The yield was 7.1375 g of alum (74.89%), and approximately 2.39 g (25%) of the theoretical yield was not isolated. The solubility of alum under the crystallization conditions would result in 1.14 g of alum remaining in solution, therefore 1.25 g of material was not isolated. This material could have remained on the

glassware and stirring rod or could have been lost during filtration and methanol washes.

Better Example Abstract

What did you do? How? What did you find? Why important?

◦Title◦Objective◦Methodology/Principles of Chemistry

Applied / Procedure◦Results◦Discussion◦Conclusion

Abstract Outline

This is the “analysis.” Why the results are important and what

can be learned from them. What principles are explored?

Why are the results significant? ◦ What do they say about the success or

failure of the experiment?

Why did the results end up this way?◦ Avoid writing “Operator/Student error.”

Discussion & Conclusion

Synthesis of a Chemical Compound: Making Alum from Aluminum

 

The objective of this laboratory was to prepare alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) from elemental aluminum using several synthetic techniques important in chemistry. A cleaned piece of aluminum was oxidized using aqueous potassium hydroxide under low heat, forming potassium tetrahydroxyaluminate and hydrogen gas. Upon the addition of sulfuric acid, aluminum(III) ions were formed. Gravity filtration was used to remove solid impurities. The alum was crystallized from the chilled filtrate, a mixture of aluminum(III), potassium, and sulfate ions, and isolated by suction filtration. The crystals were washed with methanol and dried by air suction.

The yield was 7.1375 g of alum (74.89%), and approximately 2.39 g (25%) of the theoretical yield was not isolated. The solubility of alum under the crystallization conditions would result in 1.14 g of alum remaining in

solution, therefore 1.25 g of material was not isolated. This material could have remained on the glassware and stirring rod or could have been lost during filtration and methanol washes.

Better Example Abstract

1. Read aloud your abstract2. Your peer identifies and describes

each element in yours3. Discuss what’s missing4. Then analyze, discuss revisions

Trade roles

Peer Review: Post-outline

Basic outline: What did you do? How did you do it? What did you find? Why is it important?

Objective of the experiment goes in the first sentence The “Methodology” section is a BRIEF description of the

procedure Main results of lab

◦ The rate law equation, Kinetic constants, Thermodynamic values, Cell voltages

Percent error Relevant data from charts/graphs Why are your results significant? What do they indicate about the success or failure of the

experiment? Why did the results end up this way? Use Passive Voice! Use Past Tense! Use Third Person!

Post-outline peer’s abstract:

Be as direct as possible. Since your abstract can only be one page double-spaced, there is no room for “fluff.”

Be as specific as possible without being redundant

Use the “Sentence Structure” and the “Summary of hints” handouts for specific questions

Things to Consider

Works Cited

Farrall, Don. Blue Periodic Table Closeup. N.d. Getty Images. Web. 14 Feb 2013.

GLOBALHAWK90.3d Bottle. 2012. flickr. Web. 14 Feb 2013.

Jackson, Pat. Chemistry Abstract Examples. 

Thank you!

Writing in Chemistry: Lab Abstracts

This W.I.D. Workshop is a collaborative effort of the CWAC staff, led by Lead Writing Adviser

Madeline BellCWAC: Center for Writing Across the CurriculumSaint Mary’s College of California, Spring 2015