How To Keep an Organic Laboratory Notebook 

 The laboratory notebook is an essential tool all science related careers.  The lab notebook is the primary record of experiments.  It is vital to learn how to keep a properly organized notebook for this course and your future research endeavors.  Organic notebooks are different than general chemistry notebooks. 

Every instructor, class and discipline has unique lab notebook keeping rules.  This guide contains the basic lab notebook rules for this course:

• Notebook must be a bound composition notebook (Graph paper is preferred but not required)
• Always write in pen (preferred black or blue) (Gel pens are less likely to fade and/or smudging if solvent is spilled on the book)
• Never erase or use correction fluid or tape (Draw a line through the mistake and write it again: Allows you and others to see your mistakes later      (it might not have been correct),  If an entire section needs to be rewritten, put an “X” over it and write it again)

• Clearly label the front of your notebook

Student Name

Organic Chemistry Laboratory Notebook

Gwinnett Technical College

Start Date: ______             End Date: _____

•  Each page should be numbered at the top

• Right hand (odd numbered) pages are used for writing objective (purpose), special instructions/warnings for chemicals, pre-lab procedures and conclusions
• Left hand (even numbered) pages are used for diagrams, physical data, observations, modifications, calculations and data recording

•  Reserve two pages in the front of the book for the Table of Contents.

•  Begin your first experiment on page 5 (remember the first two pages are for the table of contents)

*NOTE: YOUR LAB NOTEBOOK WILL NOT ALWAYS BE NEAT!*

Gwinnett Technical College - revised 5/2013