1. Writing Chemistry Lab Abstracts
Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
And the Department of Chemistry
Spring 2016

2. What is an abstract? 2

4. Abstract Content Title Objective/Goal: What was done
Methods & Procedure: How it was done
Results & Significance: What was discovered and why does it matter 4

5. Title Write a title, not a complete sentence
Use a descriptive title that explicitly indicates the goal of the experiment
Your title will include elements of the
experiment title in the lab notebook,
but it should not be identical

6. Title ‘Synthesis of Alum from Elemental Aluminum’ Ex:
Write a title, not a complete sentence
Use a descriptive title that explicitly indicates the goal of the experiment
Your title will include elements of the experiment title in the lab notebook, but it won’t be identical
Ex:
‘Synthesis of Alum from Elemental Aluminum’

7. Objective/Goal 1−2 sentences
State the objective (purpose) of the experiment
What was your end goal? Why are you doing this expt.?
Include the overall method used
Give both chemical names and formulas when appropriate
Avoid starting with “the purpose of this experiment was…”
Include all parts of the experiment

8. Methods & Procedure 2−4 sentences (so be BRIEF)
Describe the important experimental steps and methods
Do not include minor experimental details
Mention the technique, but not necessarily how it was performed
Assume that your audience has at least as much experience in chemistry as you do.

9. Results & Significance
Report the result(s) specified in the objective
Give the physical parameter measured, such as the rate law equation, equilibrium constants, etc.
For a synthesis experiment, this may be the mass and % yield of product
Must include
Units
Proper significant figures
Percent error and/or standard deviation, if applicable

10. Results & Significance
Discuss the conclusions you can draw from your data
Ex.) Discuss what your results tell you about the compound or reaction.
Ex.) What do your results tell you about the success or failure of the experiment?
Ex.) Tell us about the significance of your results. Why are your results important?
Don’t need to include sources of error
But if your numbers are way off, do comment on error

11. Abstract Content
Activity!

12. Abstract Formatting 1 page MAX One-Inch Margins Double-spaced
Size 12 font
Use actual subscripts and superscripts
Ex.) Use H2O instead of H2O and y=x2 instead of y=x^2
Chemical names are not capitalized (unless you are referring to a trade name such as Tylenol)

13. Abstract Writing Style
Past Tense
The experiment has already happened!
3rd Person
The focus should be on the science, not the scientist
Passive voice allows you to remain in 3rd person, but makes your abstract harder to read. Use passive voice judiciously.

14. Scientific Diction Avoid colloquial words for scientific terms
Ex.) stuff, things
Try to be specific, be careful with pronouns
Science has its own language, try to use it
BAD: “After taking the pieces and combining it with KOH in a beaker we noticed a white fizz”
GOOD: “A gas was evolved when the solid aluminum was combined with KOH”
BAD: “The mixture was sent through a gravity filtration setup”
GOOD: “The solution was purified by gravity filtration”

15. Summary Basic Outline 1 page, 1” margins, 12 pt font
Objective: What was done?
Methods & Procedure: How was it done?
Results & Significance: What was discovered and why does it matter?
1 page, 1” margins, 12 pt font
Past tense, 3rd person
Use proper scientific diction
Writing tips
Write down everything and then go back and delete all non- essential information.
Double-check Abstract Guidelines and Rubric before finishing

16. Next Steps
Write a draft abstract for the Paper Chromatography lab you just finished
Your instructor and TA will offer assistance
Peer-edit using the rubric and the “Peer Review via Post-Outlining”
Fill out our survey on today’s presentation
Write a revised version of your abstract to turn in next week

17. Thank You!
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