describe atomic absorption & emission spectroscopy (AAS & AES) measurements in stimulus/response framework

describe processes that occur during AAS and AES measurements

list the steps in a typical analysis using AAS or AES measurement

predict the form/presentation of the data collected in a typical AAS or AES measurement

draw the layout of components in the prototype (discussed in class) AAS and AES spectrometers

draw and explain the operation of prototype AAS and AES spectrometer components

calculate the properties (e.g., bandwidth, intensity) of the analyte signal passed by the component

draw the layout of AAS and AES spectrometers using alternative components, layouts

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of components that have similar function

use LLSR to find calibration line relating AAS or AES signal to concentration, e.g., Hg in tuna, 

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using LLSR calibration lines

use a single standard addition to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

use standard addition with LLSR to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using standard addition

describe the types of noise that can be observed in the signal collected by AAS and AES spectrometers

describe the interference types, their sources and remedies for AAS and AES measurements

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of AAS and AES measurements


describe electronic molecular absorption & fluorescence spectroscopy (EMAS & MFS) measurements in stimulus/response framework

describe and illustrate processes that occur during EMAS & MFS measurements

relate electronic transitions to the structure of the chromophore

list the steps in a typical analysis using EMAS & MFS measurement

predict the form/presentation of the data collected in a typical EMAS & MFS measurement

draw the layout of components in the prototype (discussed in class) EMAS & MFS spectrometers

draw and explain the operation of prototype EMAS & MFS spectrometer components

calculate the properties (e.g., bandwidth, intensity) of the analyte signal passed by the component

draw the layout of EMAS & MFS spectrometers using alternative components, layouts

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of components that have similar function

derive Beer’s law

calculate the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime

use LLSR to find calibration line relating EMAS & MFS signals to concentration, e.g., PAH in water 

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using LLSR calibration lines

use a single standard addition to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

use standard addition with LLSR to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using standard addition

calculate the standard deviation of the analyte concentration from the standard deviation of the EMAS or MFS measurements (transmittance or intensity)

describe the types of noise that can be observed in the signal collected by EMAS & MFS spectrometers

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of EMAS & MFS measurements


describe vibrational molecular absorption & scattering spectroscopy (IRAS & RSS) measurements in stimulus/response framework

describe and illustrate processes that occur during IRAS & RSS measurements

relate vibrational transitions to the structure of the chromophore

compute number, frequencies and energies of vibrational transitions expected

predict if a vibration will be IRAS or RSS active

list the steps in a typical analysis using IRAS & RSS measurement

predict the form/presentation of the data collected in a typical IRAS & RSS measurement

draw the layout of components in the prototype (discussed in class) IRAS & RSS spectrometers

draw and explain the operation of prototype IRAS & RSS spectrometer components

calculate the properties (e.g., bandwidth, intensity) of the analyte signal passed by the component

draw the layout of IRAS & RSS spectrometers using alternative components, layouts

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of components that have similar function

use LLSR to find calibration line relating EMAS & MFS signals to concentration, e.g., CNT in solvent

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using LLSR calibration lines

use a single standard addition to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

use standard addition with LLSR to find the analyte concentration in a complex sample matrix

compute the standard deviation & confidence interval of concentrations found using standard addition

calculate the standard deviation of the analyte concentration from the standard deviation of the IRAS & RSS measurements (transmittance or intensity)

describe the types of noise that can be observed in the signal collected by IRAS & RSS spectrometers

discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of molecular optical spectroscopy measurements



CHEM437: Exams, Objectives

Introduction, Elements of Chemical Analysis

Basic Electronics & Operational Amplifiers

Signals & Noise, Instrument Figures of Merit

EMR Basics & Atomic Spectroscopy Principles

Midterm 1 covers

Atomic (Elemental) Mass Analysis

Molecular Mass

Electrochemical Analysis

Principles of Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

Liquid Chromatography

Midterm 2 adds

Atomic (Elemental) Spectral Analysis

Electronic Molecular Spectral Analysis

Vibrational Molecular Spectral Analysis

The final exam covers all course materials including

The course objectives applied to the Topics in Section 1 are

describe familiar analytical methods (used in prerequisite courses) in terms of stimulus/response framework

correlate common forms of energy, e.g., heat, to familiar analytical methods that use that form of stimulus

describe the operation and output signal of the voltage follower, current follower and inverting voltage amplifier

draw apparatus of familiar analytical methods (used in prerequisite courses) with RC/operational amplifier circuits

describe the types of noise that can be observed in the signal collected using an instrument described by any

    combination of the circuits discussed

classify the noise types by frequency distribution

list strategies for noise reduction

compute cut-off frequency for low-pass RC circuits

estimate the scale of each type of noise given the signal

compute the mean and standard deviation of any series of measurements

compute the confidence interval of a measurement given the mean and standard deviation

use the t-test to compare a set of results to a reference

use the t-test to compare the results of two sets of measurements

use linear least squares regression (LLSR) to find calibration line relating instrument response to concentration

use LLSR to compute the standard deviation of any concentration predicted using a least squares calibration line

use LLSR to compute the figures of merit describing an instrument’s performance

describe (verbally & mathematically) properties of electromagnetic radiation (EMR)

classify EMR/matter interactions by EMR model (wave vs particle)

describe principles and processes underlying atomic absorption and atomic emission measurements

Example Midterm #1 (course coverage varies each year), Key

Midterm #1 (blank), Key

Midterm #2 (blank), Key


The course objectives applied to the Topics in Section 2 are