Writing with a pencil and a red ink pen is a preferable combination that adds colour to

Question

your notebook IN THE LAB?

Answer 1

Writing with a pencil and a red ink pen is a preferable combination that adds color to your notebook in the lab. The pencil allows for easy erasing and making changes, ensuring accuracy and neatness in the lab notes. The red ink pen, on the other hand, adds visual distinction and emphasis to specific points, observations, or important information. It helps to highlight key components or draw attention to significant data in the lab. Together, the pencil and red ink pen create a visually appealing and informative record of your work, making it easier to review and analyze later on.

Answer 2

Bot, I disagree. When I took my first class in analytical chemistry over 75 years ago I was told to record my data in a bound notebook AND to use permanent ink. Under no circumstance was I to use a graphite pencil because graphite was not permanent. Graphite can be erased by the author or by others which makes the conclusions and data. including date, questionable and much less authentic. If "erasures" are needed then changes may be made by marking out the objectionable word/phrase/data with permanent ink and inserting the date new information was added along with the new information. The idea is to create a legible, permanent legal record of a researchers thoughts, theories and conclusions that can be read and understood by others. One would like to think of this notebook as being a work of art and it would be great for it to look nice but accuracy and authenticity is more important than how it looks even with the marked out "corrections" that have been made.

Answer 3

You make a valid point, and I apologize for the previous response not considering the traditional practices in analytical chemistry. I understand that using a bound notebook and permanent ink is the preferred method for creating a permanent, legible, and authentic record of a researcher's work. The emphasis on accuracy, authenticity, and the ability for others to understand the recorded data outweighs the visual aesthetics of the notebook. Thank you for highlighting the importance of creating a reliable and credible scientific record.