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I just read my syllabus for lab and I am kind of shocked at what it says.

I do know that I have to write out procedures of the lab in my nbk before coming to lab but I just read that it says "You will NOT be allowed to refer to you textbook/handout during the lab period"

Is this standard to have organic chem lab or any lab like this where your not allowed to look at your lab manual during lab AT ALL.

I do think that this is unusually cruel since I did write the steps in detail but some things such as how to attach some of the equipment is sometimes tough to remember and copying over to your notebook (instructions) has a possibility of error. In general chem and analytical chem we were allowed to use our manuals in lab.
This is the first time that I've heard that you can't use your lab manual at all.

-I don't know if they might be lenient on this since my first lab is on tuesday. For labs that require alot of steps it's difficult to get everything in detail but abreviated since you won't be able to use your manual.

Thanks =D

4 answers

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. You need to verify with the teacher who write the syllabus. Usually there is no exception to "rules" presented in the syllabus. If you find this impossible to do, no doubt you are not alone. I'm sure the emphasis during the LAB is to DO and not to spend time looking for something in your notebook.
It's actually a general syllabus for all the lab sections all with different instructors.
It isn't a general practice where I come from but then I've been out of it for about 10 years. Personally, I don't think its a good idea, because a student who mistakenly remembers the additon of a WRONG material, could blow the place up(see *note below). I suspect the reason for this is that they want you to go over and over the procedure before coming to lab. So many students DON'T even open the lab manual until they START the experiment. I predict there will be a lot of talking going on in the lab with one student asking another, "What are you doing next?" But as the saying goes, when in Rome....... So you need to essentially memorize the procedure.

*Note: That actually happened at my undergraduate school. Some student wanted to make some new cleaning solution for the glassware and he asked the lab instructor how to make it. The lab instructor told him how but he got it mixed up and mixted the wrong two things together. It blew a 12" more or less round hold in the thick black lab top, went through the bottom of the drawer directly beneath it, continued to the large bin directly below that and blew a hole in the bottom of the cabinet, then took out the tile flooring, and finally a piece of the concrete floor. Henceforth no one could use that lab top position but all of the new students got a briefing about listening to instructions carefully else you may do the same thing. Fortunately, the student who did all that damage was not damaged himself. But boy was he surprised. He WROTE the instructions after that.
Wow..you always have the most interesting stories Dr.Bob XD

As I said before it isn't a good idea as there is always a chance of error when copying over as well.

I did all the procedure descriptions then when I read that statement of how you can't look at your lab manual I seriously was panicking.

Yes there will probably be alot of people asking around but that happens even if we're allowed to go and have our lab manual but will probably be more. However I highly doubt anyone will read the syllabus as I just happened to catch it in the middle of a random paragraph.

I don't have to memorize the procedures since I'm instructed to do a pre-lab nbk with carbon copy paper where I write down all the procedures for the lab on the left side of the nbk and the observations on the right side. However besides the fact that I think that there is a chance of a copying error, I feel that in addition to that the manual would be helpful in seeing how they put together the equipment since I don't think that I'd be able to draw a picture of the apparatus that would look like the book.

Now about that most interesting story.
I can't believe that happened..pretty scary I must bet. You said it actually "exploded", so you don't mean it burned a hole though the table then.

I guess I'll have to see just how strict they are regarding that rule..I bet someone will take out their lab book in lab.

Thanks for commenting Dr.Bob =D