Keeping a Lab Notebook
Lab Vocabulary
Chapter 1 Concepts
Chapter 2 Concepts
Word roots
100

What writing utensil should be used when writing in a lab notebook and why?

Pen should be used to prevent someone from tampering with your work & holds you accountable for documenting any changes in your work.

100

Define these terms:

  • Variance
  • Standard Deviation
  • Precision
  • Accuracy
  • Variance: Shows how spread out data sets are (shows precision)
  • Standard Deviation: Tells you how much the data set deviates from the average (shows precision)
  • Precision: How close measurements are to each other
  • Accuracy: How close measurements are the expected value
100

Define positive & negative feedback. Give 2 examples of each.

Positive Feedback: Body leaves homeostasis for a specific reason

     Ex: Fruit Ripening, Lactation, Labor, blood clotting

Negative Feedback: Body alters internal environment to keep homeostasis

     Ex: Sweating/Shivering, Osmoregulation, blood pressure regulation

100

Explain ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds.

Ionic bonds are made when metals and nonmetals OR metalloids and nonmetals bond. Electrons are transferred from one molecule to another.

Covalent bonds are made when two nonmetals bond. Electrons are shared.

Metallic bonds are made when a metal and metalloid bond. Electrons are delocalized, meaning not associated with a particular atom.

100

Define each word root and give an example:

  • Gen-
  • Bio-
  • -ology
Gen- Birth/Origin; Gene

Bio- Life; Biology

-ology - study of; Histology

200

What is the function of a protocol section in a lab entry? When should it be written? How would you note changes made to the protocol? What should you NOT do when making changes to the protocol?

The protocol section outlines the step-by-step procedure used during the experiment. It acts as a detailed record of what you planned to do. 

It should be written before starting the lab.

If you deviate from the planned procedure, you should draw a line through the old steps and write the new ones below.

You should not erase or scribble out the original protocol.

200

What is the difference between a carcinogen, a toxin, and a teratogen?

Carcinogen is a cancer causing substance.

A toxin is a general poison.

A teratogen is a birth defect causing substance.

200

Explain inductive vs deductive reasoning. Give an example of each.


Inductive reasoning is taking a specific observation and making a general conclusion; conclusion not necessarily true.

     Ex: My neighbor's pig is black, therefore, all pigs are black.

Deductive reasoning it taking a general observation and making a specific conclusion; if premise is true, conclusion must be true.

     Ex: It is dangerous to drive on icy roads, therefore, it would be dangerous to drive now.

200

What is matter? What is an element? What is a compound? The book gives the example that sodium (Na) is a metal and chlorine (Cl2) is a poisonous gas, but when they come together as NaCl (sodium chloride) it is edible as table salt. Explain how this exemplifies an emergent property.

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.

An element is a substance made of atoms that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions.

A compound consists of two or more elements in a fixed ratio. 

An emergent property is a trait or behavior that only appears when smaller parts work together, but not within the individual parts themselves. Sodium and chlorine on their own have different properties than sodium chloride because when the two molecules react together, their small parts make up a whole molecule that has a different form, and therefore, a different property, and therefore, a different function. Remember, form fits function. If the form changes, so does the function.

200

Define each word root and give an example:

  • Cat-
  • An-
  • Iso-

Cat- down; Cation/Catabolic

An- up; Anion/Anabolic

Iso- same; Isotope

300

What are 3 things that should be included in your conclusion section of a lab notebook?

Summary of your results, interpretation of results, sources of error and future improvements

300

Define the following terms:

  • Independent Variable
  • Dependent Variable
  • Control
  • Qualitative Data
  • Quantitative Data
  • Hypothesis
  • Prediction
  • Independent Variable: Is changed between each round of experimentation
  • Dependent Variable: Changes depending on the change caused by the independent variable
  • Control: The group in an experiment that doesn't receive experimental treatment
  • Qualitative Data: Data that is measured by descriptors or characteristics  
  • Quantitative Data: Data that is measured numerically
  • Hypothesis: A testable explanation or educated guess about how one variable will affect another
  • Prediction: A specific expected outcome based on the hypothesis. It often includes what will happen under certain conditions. 
300

List and provide examples of the 12 levels of biological hierarchy.

Atom: Oxygen

Molecule: Carbon dioxide

Organelle: Mitochondria

Cell: Neuron

Tissue: Epithelia

Organ: Brain

Organ System: Nervous System

Organism: Snail

Population: Geese (group of gooses)

Community: Algae, coy fish, bacteria, etc.

Ecosystem: Water, lily pads, frogs, wind, air

Biosphere: Earth

300

Element X has an atomic mass of 30 and 7 protons. Element Y has an atomic mass of 15 and 4 protons. Element X is a nonmetal and element Y is a metal. 

What would the molecular formula be between these two elements? What bond would form?

X2Y

Ionic bond

300

Define each word root and give an example:

  • Eu-
  • Karyo-
  • Pro-

Eu- true; Eukaryote

Karyo- Nucleus; Karyokinesis

Pro- Before; Prokaryote 

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