When writing a paper should I describe the procedure thoroughly?
Use the following criterion in mind when you write a method in a paper: If you were reading this synthesis procedure from a book or a paper, could you replicate it or not? Do you feel anything is missing for proper duplication? When I review a methodology section of a papwe, I keep this criterion in mind: &quot;Using this written information, can I reproduce his/her work?&quot;, otherwise I ask for more information.
Since you mentioned synthesis, a good sample procedure could be from Organic Synthesis http://www.orgsyn.org/
See how they write good procedures, and these methods are verified by independent person. Additionally, some journal put restrictions on word count, but still you want more details. For that, Supporting Information file exists on most good quality journals. I once saw someone even added pictures of their synthetic procedure/apparatus. Nobody will mind but it is not common.
Odd cases: Mentioning the source of glassware might be important if glassware surface were affecting the reaction. I &quot;re-discovered&quot; this only once. Sometimes the age of a solvents might affect the reaction. Tetrahydrofuran when used a solvent can have traces of peroxide which can show new unexpected products.
Now, there is a trend these days to intentionally hide some information so that competitor's cannot catch up with your work or write the method in a sloppy bare minimum way. This is really sinister but it happens and such practices must be curbed. Ayway scientists are not saints-they are human beings like everyone.