TO THE STUDENT 



To be of value laboratory work must be carried through with a 

 complete understanding of what one is attempting to accomplish. 

 Without such a conception the work is of little more value to the 

 student than any other form of mechanical exercise. 



A student should never begin a particular experiment until the 

 complete directions have been read over and an understanding 

 gained of the problem and the way in which it is to be carried 

 through. If there are any points which you do not understand 

 consult the instructor. Be certain that you have all the apparatus 

 and solutions essential before beginning work. Do not begin an 

 experiment unless there is sufficient time to carry it to a point where 

 it may be left without detriment to the result. 



At times it may happen that the results obtained will be 

 different than were anticipated. If so, consult the instructor. It 

 may be that some error in technique has been made which can 

 be easily remedied by the instructor. Or again, the results may 

 be correct and your expectations wrong. At any rate you should 

 not feel any hesitancy about reporting results which do not 

 appear to you to be correct. One should not feel it any disgrace 

 to fail to obtain an accurate result at the first trial with a new 

 quantitative method. In fact skilled chemists often fail at first. 

 By repetition of the work skill in technique is obtained. You 

 should remember that it is better to do one thing well, to learn 

 one method accurately, than to carry through a dozen things in 

 an inaccurate manner. "Remember that you are working for 

 your own benefit and that honesty is the first requisite of success 

 in all walks of life, but above all it is the foundation stone of 

 science." 



