Lesson 3: How to Write a Result Section of a Chemistry Lab Report

The result section of a chemistry lab report is where you present your results. You can present your results in the form of tables, graphs, and diagrams. Tables, graphs or diagrams must be labeled correctly. You can write a brief description on either top or below of the tables, graphs, and diagrams. However, labeling of your tables and figures depend on the instructions provided by your institution.

In addition, you have to briefly describe your results. Though, you should not explain your results in this section. The explanation of your results should be in your discussion part. 

 Let us check a few examples: 

Example 1

An experiment was conducted to determine the concentrations and the acid-base equilibrium constants for acetic acid and aqueous ammonia using titration curves. During the lab session, the following raw data for titration of an acetic acid with sodium hydroxide, and titration of aqueous ammonia with hydrochloric acid, CLICK HERE TO FIND THE DATA .

You have to express these results in a neat and pretty form. The results are already in MS Excel. Now, you have to use Scatter plot on the MS Excel Tool's Bar to draw titration curves using your raw data. For titration of an acetic acid with sodium hydroxide, plot pH values against the volume of sodium hydroxide used. For the titration of aqueous ammonia with hydrochloric acid, plot pH values versus the volume of hydrochloric acid used. 

If you do that, you will get these curves: acetic acid-sodium hydroxide titration curve and aqueous ammonia-hydrochloric acid titration curves, CLICK HERE TO FIND THE CURVES . 

Now, present them in your lab report as in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Briefly describe your data for example 1 as follows:

The volume of NaOH used to reach equivalence was 9.3ml and the pK_a was 4.3. On the other hand, the volume of HCl used to reach equilibrium was 16.4ml and pK_b was 9.57. 

Example 2

An experiment was performed to identify two unknown compounds by interpreting their IR spectra. In this example, IR spectrometer was used, which gave two spectra of the two unknown compounds (Figure 1 and Figure). Figure 1 is the IR spectrum of unknown compound #1 while Figure 2 is the IR spectrum of unknown compound #2. Additionally, Table A consists of structure, functional group, peak and the identification of unknown organic compounds. 

Figure 1: IR Spectrum of Unknown Compound #1

Figure 2: IR Spectrum of Unknown Compound #2

 

Table A

Briefly describe your data for example 2 as follows:

The unknown organic solution #1 had C=O vibrational stretch peak at 1714cm^-1(Figure 1 and Table 1). On the other hand, unknown organic solution #2 had both C=O and C-O vibrational stretches at 1714cm^-1 and 1269cm^-1(Figure 2 and Table 1). These results indicate that among the lists of organic compounds available only aliphatic ketone and aromatic ester were present. 

Final remarks:

In a chemistry lab result section, you should present your data in a proper manner. Label them as required and with captions either on top or below. Furthermore, briefly describe your results and use the correct measurements when it is required. In examples 1 and 2 above, I presented my data in graphs, tables, and diagrams. Therefore, it is easier for the reader to understand my data even without reading a brief description of the results.  

If you have any question about this lesson, kindly comment below and I will answer it.Moreover, if you have not checked previous posts then you can read them here,Free Course , Lesson 1, and Lesson 2.