LABORATORY PREPARATION: BLOCK #3

Getting Ready for Lab

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Great Learning in Lab

Books, lectures and videos are good. We can learn from each of them, but actually doing something is even better. As we perform something real our minds can tune in much more completely than if we are only reading words or watching someone else do the action.

The concepts we cover in laboratory work fall into main categories of qualitative and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations are in the "what's in like?" mode and quantitative obervations are "how much?" actual numeric measurements.

Be Sure and Check Your Laboratory Schedule for Dates of Lab!

The Language of Lab

Laboratory work focuses on observation, measurement & description and then analyzing the results to produce meaningful conclusions.

The mathematics we use in chemistry labs is not difficult, but you do need to be comfortable with using those math skills as you perform and report on your work.

The following video gives an overview of many of the measurements we will be making during our laboratory activities.

ACTIVITY ASSIGNMENT: As you watch the video, make a LIST of the various measurements mentioned.

Scientific Measurement





ACTIVITY ASSIGNMENT: The next video correlates with Section 3.1 in your book. Watch the video below and using your book as a reference, complete Section 3.1 (pages 19-21) in the Guided Reading and Study Workbook.

Measurement and Uncertainty




Here comes a really important concept!

The work we do in our laboratory activities combines the quantitative measurement with conceptual ideas. Thus it is critical to be comfortable and skilled with the quantitative nature of science. Simply put, we don't want to need to be learning the math concepts at the same time we are trying to understand the science.

Therefore, we will do enough "drill & practice" on the quantitative skills to become comfortable and correct in our use of those math skills.

ACTIVITY ASSIGNMENT: The next video correlates with Section 3.3 in your book. Watch the video below and using your book as a reference, complete Section 3.3 (pages 25-29) in the Guided Reading and Study Workbook.

Unit Conversion & Significant Figures

Be sure and check if Quiz Questions are required for this block