SAMPLE LAB REPORT

Yuki Aoki*
10 October 2006

                                    Boiling speed of salt water

Aim:                 Does salt water reach 100°C at the same speed as tap water?

Hypothesis:       My hypothesis is that salt water will reach 100°C more slowly than tap water because it is thicker.

Variables:         Independent: Amount of salt
                        Dependent: Time measured in seconds
                        Controlled: Amount of water; temperature of the Bunsen burner flame

Apparatus:        Two each of: beaker, tripod, Bunsen burner, stop clock, thermometer.

Diagram:

            Note: This is a sample of labelled diagram. It is not a diagram showing the experiment to determine the boiling point of salt water.

Method:

    1. Fill both beakers with 200ml water from the tap.
    2. Add 5g salt to one of the beakers
    3. Turn on both Bunsen burners at same time.
    4. Turn on both stop clocks.
    5. Use thermometers to measure the temperatures in both beakers.
    6. Record the time when the temperature reaches 100°C.
    7. Repeat 1-7 above with 10g, 15g, 20g salt.

Results:

Analysis:

Conclusion:        My hypothesis was wrong. In fact, the opposite is true: the more salt there is in the water, the more quickly the water reaches 100°C. This is because ..

Evaluation:        The experiment was easy to understand and to do for two students working together. However, there was a problem with controlling the two Bunsen burners to make sure they burned at exactly the same temperature.

* Not a real student.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the example lab report shown above is not an authentic one. It is not based on any actual experiment and does not reflect scientific reality. It has been written to exemplify the sections of a typical lab report, in such a way that ESL students at Frankfurt International School can understand what is expected of them in doing writing of this kind.