Instruction
Format (These are general rules that apply to all post labs and lab reports. Use the rule(s) that apply to your specific content)
1. The goal is to tell your story as briefly as possible.
2. Use third person with past tense, passive voice, 12-point font, single spaced. When discussing theory, you may use present tense. Do not indent the start of each paragraph but give an extra space between paragraphs.
3. Keep figure titles left justified, with figures small (but legible) and centered. Figures MAY NOT span more than one page. Ideally a table should fit on one page or less.
4. Figure titles should be BELOW the figure and should be formatted as follows: Figure 1. Figure Title. Table titles go above the table and are formatted as follows: Table 1. Table Title. Scheme titles go above the scheme and are formatted as follows:Scheme 1. Scheme Title.
5. Be sure to introduce figures, tables and schemes in the text before inserting them into the paper.
6. Annotated spectra and sample calculations go in an appendix. If you have annotated spectra and sample calculations you would have two appendices. each appendix has a title with this format. Appendix Letter (start with A). Appendix Title. If multiple appendices, spectra are first. Annotated spectra are figures and need a figure title. If you have one appendix, figure numbers would be 1A, 2A, 3A ... If you have multiple appendices figure numbers in the first appendix would be 1A, 2A, 3A...and figures numbers in the second appendix would be 1B, 2B, 2C...and so on for each following appendix. IR spectra are presented as two to a page in portrait mode and NMR spectra are one to page using landscape mode.
7. Be concise and use correct spelling and grammar.
8. Upload a PDF document of your laboratory report. Guidelines for the individual sections are shown below. The guidelines are not all encompassing. These reports require critical thinking that demonstrate mastery of the material. Spectral annotation guidelines are located on the spectroscopy module page.
Title (4 points)
(left justify) Chem 3418 Section X
(left justify)Your name here
(left justify) Semester 201X
Title of your lab report (center)
Abstract (6 pts)
The goal here is to write a few sentences (200 words maximum) that summarizes the kind and importance of the experiment, the methods used, instrumentation used and the results. Write two sentences. The first one mentions the substitution reaction you performed, include the reaction yield (use correct format x g (y mmol, Z%), the qualitative purity of the product and mentions the technique used to determine that purity. The second sentence of the abstract is similar to the first except now you are talking about the elimination reaction.
Introduction (16 pts)
Write two brief paragraphs presenting the two reactions. For each reaction you will need a scheme and a mechanism. A scheme is where you draw the starting materials an arrow and the organic product(s). Typically the reaction conditions are above and below the arrow. A mechanism is a drawing that includes the arrows indicating electron movement during the reaction. The mechanisms will be figures. Discuss the main attributes of the reaction conditions and how it is the reaction conditions that determine whether the reaction proceeds as substitution or elimination, since both have a common rate-determining step. Insert the figure(s) in the paragraph after the first mention of the particular mechanism in the text. For example, you might have something in the text like this: “…as indicated in Figure 1.” You cannot have two figures or schemes in any combination back-to-back. You have to have text in between inserted items.
Results and Discussion (30 pts)
In a paragraph for each reaction mention that the reaction was performed. You can refer to the scheme and mechanisms presented in the Introduction. Mention what your calculated yield was for each reaction. If there were difficulties or problems with the reaction or workup you can mention that here. Mention how you identified the product(s) of the reaction by whatever techniques you used. Your IR data are the bands that are diagnostic for your product. Point out what the major diagnostic band is in your discussion. Remember bands are things like “O-H stretch” or “sp3 C-H stretch”. As a general rule you do not have analyze the fingerprint region. It just so happens that the sp3 C-Cl stretch is a strong absorption between 600 and 800 cm-1 and is indicative of the formation of the alkyl chloride. So, in this particular case you do want to analyze the fingerprint region and check for that band. You always analyze the C-H stretch region (2800-3300 cm-1). You will attach the full spectrum with all the diagnostic the bands labeled in the appendix.
Treat your 1H NMR data the same as your FTIR data. Mention which signal and it's chemical shift or lack of signal would indicate that you have indeed formed the desired product.
Once all the data has been presented discuss what the results mean. Did one reaction give a higher yield or a purer product? Do any of the reactions have competing reaction pathways occurring.
Conclusion (5 pts)
Write a few sentences summing up the major results and major conclusions drawn from this experiment. Sum up how it is possible to control conditions to favor an SN1 or E1 reaction pathway. If part of the experiment did not work or your results were not as expected, address why this could be.
Experimental (9 pts)
Normally a short paragraph detailing commercial suppliers and purities of all chemicals used during the experiment, as well as the manufacturer of the instrumentation (IR, NMR etc.) used is included. You may use the following phrase:
“All reactants were reagent grade and provided by the University of Colorado Denver Chemistry Department. FTIR spectra were obtained with a Nicolet iS5 ATR FTIR spectrometer and all measurements were in cm-1. The 1H NMR spectra were obtained using a Bruker 400 MHz spectrometer using CDCl3 as the solvent. All measurements were in ppm and the following abbreviations were used: s (singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), and m (multiplet)."
Be concise in describing the procedure for each step of the experiment. DO NOT simply copy the procedure that was given to you for the laboratory period. Make sure to follow proper formatting rules, and to include results.
Do not forget to include 1H NMR data at the end of the results. It should be formatted like this: 1H NMR (ppm): x; y; z (the peaks of each of your proton environments, do not include impurities starting with the most upfield signal). For each peak write the chemicals shift first, then the multiplicity then the # of protons that generated the signal.
You will need two additional paragraphs, one for each experiment you conducted. You have done this for previous reports, refer to those pages if you need a reminder.
References (2 pts)
Include references for any references you might have used.
Appendix (18 pts)
Attach the annotated IR and 1H NMR spectra of your products. Include proper figure titles for each spectrum and the product’s structure on each spectrum. If there are signals from impurities or left-over starting material in your product indicate them in your annotation.
Grammar and Format (10 pts)
Type in 12 point Times New Roman, single-spaced, with blank lines between paragraphs. Use appropriate section headings and labels for schemes, figures, and tables. Proper English in past tense passive voice must be used throughout the report. DO NOT include personal pronouns. Points will be deducted for each mistake up to the limit. Use correct spelling and grammar.