WRITING CHEMICAL RESEARCH PAPERS EXPERIMENTAL OR MATERIALS AND

WRITING CHEMICAL RESEARCH PAPERS EXPERIMENTAL, OR MATERIALS AND METHODS 1

Function of ‘Materials and Methods’ or ‘Experimental’ Section • To allow readers to assess the value and quality of your work • To enable readers to repeat or adopt your procedures 2

Function of ‘Materials and Methods’ In general, a Materials and Methods section Should give clearly the following information: • Details of experimental procedure – what was done and how • Details of quantities, times and all relevant parameters and experimental conditions • Details of equipment • Details of materials 3

Structure of Materials and Methods Section The ‘Materials and Methods’ or ‘Experimental’ Section will be normally divided into a number of subsections, according to journal style. Typically these are: • Materials • Instrumentation • (Experimental) Procedures (including General Procedure in organic synthesis papers – see later) • Any addition experimental sections 4

Contents of ‘Materials and Methods Subsections • Materials. Identity, grades and sources (with brief addresses) of key materials should be stated here • Instrumentation. Information should include model names/numbers, manufacturers (with brief addresses) and operating conditions (there may be a separate subsection for this) 5

Contents of ‘Materials and Methods Subsections. . Continued • Procedure. All necessary experimental details (masses, volumes, times, temperatures, etc) should be given here, along with a concise but clear procedural details • See special note on synthetic organic chemistry ‘Materials and Methods’ style 6

Some Important General Points • Set out procedural details in logical order, making them easy for readers to follow • Use subheadings to divide text, according to journal guidelines 7

More General Points • Methods should describe experimental design clearly (but briefly). E. g. -Hypotheses tested -Variables measured -Replicates -Reference materials (standards) 8

Some More General Points • Methods should explain briefly why each procedure was done • Any already published procedure that is important, but not central to the present manuscript, can be merely referenced (especially if lengthy) 9

Yet More General Points • Use past tense in third person • Give clear descriptions of new equipment constructed for your study: include a figure if necessary • Give details of modifications made to standard equipment or existing methods 10

Final General Points (Honestly!) • Emphasize sources of specific materials or equipment that are crucial to the study • State quantifications precisely (and with estimate of error, where relevant) • State statistical tests used (with citation, if special) 11

What Not to Include in ‘Materials and Methods’ • Results: These will be in the ‘Results’ or ‘Results and Discussion’ section • Background information: that should be in the ‘Introduction’ and/or ‘Discussion’ section • Extraneous information or discussion 12

Synthetic Organic Chemistry ‘Materials and Methods’ Style • In the Materials subsection, sources (with brief address) and quality of chemicals should be included, as stated previously • In the Instrumental subsection (if present), instrument model numbers and manufacturer details should be given, as stated previously 13

Synthetic Organic Chemistry ‘Materials and Methods’ Style. . Continued • An Instrumental Procedures subsection (if present) should give essential (but brief) details, including experimental or operating conditions 14

Synthetic Organic Chemistry ‘Materials and Methods’ Style. . Continued In the General Procedure subsection, • Details mentioned above are not included, but details of chromatography stationary and mobile phases should be included, along with other essential details on quantities, temperatures, times, etc • Physical parameters (m. pt. , elemental composition, spectroscopic data, etc) of all new compounds should be summarized in this subsection 15

Example 1 16

Example 2 17

Example 3 18

If in Doubt, Ask a Colleague… 19