IB Labs

1. IB Labs Design

2. Aspects of Lab Design: Some things to consider when doing a Design Lab:

3. Design Research Question (aim) Give a clear and specific statement of the purpose of the experiment If your instructor has already provided a general question, make it more specific and specifically relate it to your individual experiment. Investigate the Heat of Neutralization of an Acid/Base reaction.

4. Design Hypothesis A hypothesis is a predicted or expected result that can be tested by an experiment. You should formulate a hypothesis only if a meaningful statement is possible. Avoid a hypothesis if you already know the expected result or if you have no idea about the results you might obtain. In these cases state that no meaningful statement is possible. Explain the basis of a meaningful hypothesis. What do you expect the anticipated result to be? Why? Your anticipated results should be quantitative where ever it is possible.

5. Design Variables What variable(s) are you trying to measure or observe? Explain why each is relevant to your investigation. An appropriate investigation will often have several relevant variables. You should indicate which variables are independent and which dependent. Also indicate which variables need to be controlled

6. Design Equipment and materials List specific equipment wherever possible. (For example. 10 cm3 graduated cylinder rather than "just graduated cylinder"). List chemicals and solutions used. Indicate the concentrations of solutions. Indicate how they were prepared if you had to make them specifically for your experiment.

7. Design Control of Variables Explain which variables that need to be controlled and provide an explicit procedure for how each will be controlled -manipulated -responding

8. Design Method/Procedure Use paragraph format. Third person is appropriate Provide enough detail that another person could repeat your work If you are using standard protocols indicate what you actually did rather than merely copy an existing lab sheet. Some procedures such as titrations or melting points determinations may need little detail. For more complicated procedures be explicit The procedure should be appropriate to the level of accuracy and precision required (For example: Do not use a graduated cylinder to the measure volumes for a titration. Use a burette or pipet if available) For microscale techniques, weighing the well plate or pipet provides better results than counting drops Your procedure should allow collection of sufficient relevant data. Make repeated trials if time and materials are available

9. Design Framing the investigationDescribe the background and context for your experiment. What is the reason/rationale for the investigation? Include the relevant background information. State and explain the research question(s) or issue that you studied, State your hypothesis, be specific. Describe and explain your independent and dependent variables.

10. Design Designing the investigationExplain your methods for collecting data. Your procedure should be clear and detailed. Your procedure should describe exactly what you did in such a way so that another person could duplicate your work if they so desired. If you adapted an existing protocol, describe exactly what you did. Do not plagiarize an existing set of instructions by copying it verbatim. Explain the experimental controls employed to insure that you are collecting good data Explain specifically the materials and equipment used. Also the amounts (proportions) of chemicals and the concentrations. You do not have to include details that can safely be assumed such as wearing goggles, putting away equipment, etc. (Normal Lab Conditions)

11. Design Rubric

12. Assignment • Investigate the Heat of Neutralization of an Acid/Base reaction. • Due to TurnItIn.com • Info on the front page of my website! • Due Tuesday 11Mar14 by 12:01 pm (just after noon). • ***MUST BE INDIVIDUALIZED***