Reports: The reports must be word processed, but formulas may be hand written. The reports must be written in the style of a journal article and contain the following parts or sections clearly labeled:
1. Abstract. This consists of a concise summary of your results in less than 100 words. Use the present tense.
2. Introduction. Present the topic of your inquiry. What did you study? What technique did you use? Why was this technique selected? What main conclusion do you expect to obtain? Present any relevant background. This section sets the stage for the rest of the paper.
3. Theory. The required theory for understanding the experiment should be presented assuming that the reader’s knowledge is commensurate with college level physical chemistry. It should be complete in terms of the needed equations and their development (not derivation) needed to interpret your results.
4. Experimental. Indicate exactly how the experiment was done, but don’t go into trivial detail. Be specific as to the types and sources of chemicals, amounts used, instruments employed and their relevant parameters. References to literature procedures may be used to a degree. Do not list step by step instructions.
5. Results. Present your results in prose form, as in a journal article. You may use tables and graphs to illustrate and organize your data and results. However, don’t just supply a collection of figures and tables without some textual guide. It is your responsibility to make the results clear to the reader. Guide the reader through you findings.
6. Discussion. Discuss your results and present the conclusions. Do your results provide the information you expected? Do your results support the predictions of theory? What do your results imply regarding the physical system you studied? How do your results compare to similar values obtained by different methods? Do your results agree or disagree with values found in the literature? Discuss the error associated with your results.
7. References. The accepted format varies from journal to journal. However, we will follow the accepted format found in the ACS Style Guide. This is not a bibliography.
8. Appendix I. Error Analysis. Present a detailed sample calculation, showing how you estimated the random errors in your measured quantities, and how these errors were propagated to obtain the errors quoted in your final results. Also, discuss possible systematic errors and how these would effect your results. Give any suggestions you might have for reducing the errors.
8. Appendix II. Sample Calculations and Raw Data. Present a detailed sample calculation for each non-trivial value calculated including units. Include a copy of you raw data here.