How to write a lab book

An example of a format that is effective for general synthetic chemistry is outlined on page 11. This can be adjusted to personal needs but its essential features, which are listed below, should be included in any format chosen. 

It is good practice to start each new experiment on the next free right hand page of the notebook. This makes finding any particular experiment easier. 

This is always included at the top of the page so that an individual experiment is easily found. If the reaction proceeded as desired the scheme is left intact, but if the desired product was not obtained it can be crossed through in red to indicate this. If other products were also obtained they can be added, again in a different colour ink if desired. Thus, simply flicking through the lab book, looking at the schemes, can quickly provide a good deal of information. Some people prefer to write only the left-hand side of the equation until the experiment is complete. 

Rodriguez-Hahn and P. Crabbe, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1978, 601 

The aldehyde (200mg) and CeClg solution (2ml) in MeOH (25ml), was cooled to 0°C, then treated with NaBH4 (27mg) in MeOH (8ml). 

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