Glossary

Acid Dissociation Constants | The equilibrium constants for the dissociation of acids into hydrogen ions and their conjugate base in solution.

Activity Effects | The changes in the effective concentration of ions in a solution, accounting for interactions between ions that influence their behavior.

Amperometric Methods | Electrochemical techniques where the current is measured as a function of applied voltage to analyze a sample.

Buoyancy of Air | The correction needed for mass measurements, considering the density of air when weighing objects in a laboratory balance.

Calibration Curve | A graphical representation of the relationship between the known concentrations of standards and their corresponding analytical responses.

Chemical Kinetics | The study of the rates at which chemical reactions occur and the factors influencing these rates.

Chromatography | A separation technique based on the differential affinities of compounds in a mixture to stationary and mobile phases.

Column Chromatography | A chromatographic method where the stationary phase is packed in a column and the mobile phase carries the sample through it.

Complexation Titrations | A type of titrimetric method where the analyte forms a complex with a reagent, which is used to determine its concentration.

Critical Values for t-Test | The values used to determine statistical significance in hypothesis testing using the t-distribution.

Detection Limits | The smallest quantity of an analyte that can be reliably detected but not necessarily quantified in a sample.

Determination | The process of quantifying the amount of analyte in a sample.

Dixon's Q-Test | A statistical test used to identify outliers in a set of data points.

Electrochemistry | The study of chemical processes that involve the movement of electrons, often used in potentiometry, coulometry, and voltammetry.

Electrophoresis | A separation technique where charged particles move through a gel under the influence of an electric field.

Emission Spectroscopy | A spectroscopic method in which atoms or molecules emit light at characteristic wavelengths after being excited.

Excel and R | Software tools used for statistical analysis, data visualization, and conducting various types of analytical chemistry computations.

F-Test | A statistical test used to compare two variances to determine if they are significantly different.

Formation Constants | The equilibrium constants for the formation of complex ions from a metal and a ligand.

Gravimetric Methods | Analytical methods based on the measurement of mass, typically involving the precipitation of a compound.

Grubb's Test | A statistical test used for detecting outliers in small data sets.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography | A modern chromatographic technique that uses high-pressure pumps to force solvents through a column to separate compounds in a liquid sample.

Hydrogen Ion Concentration | A measure of the concentration of H⁺ ions in a solution, typically used to determine the pH of a solution.

Instrumental Methods | Analytical techniques that involve the use of instruments, such as spectrometers or chromatographs, to measure the concentration of analytes.

Interferents | Substances that affect the accuracy of the analysis by interfering with the measurement of the analyte.

Kinetic Methods | Techniques that rely on the measurement of the rate of a chemical reaction to determine the concentration of analytes.

Le Chatelier’s Principle | A principle in chemistry that states that a system at equilibrium will adjust to counteract any changes imposed on it.

Linear Regression | A statistical method for modeling the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables, often used for calibration curves.

Liquid-Liquid Extractions | A separation technique where two immiscible liquids are used to separate components based on their solubilities.

Measurement Uncertainty | The doubt that exists about the result of any measurement due to possible errors and variability in the process.

Method Validation | The process of confirming that an analytical method produces accurate, reliable, and consistent results within defined limits.

Normal Distribution | A symmetric, bell-shaped probability distribution, often used to model the distribution of experimental errors.

Normality | A concentration unit for acids and bases in solution, defined as the gram equivalent weight per liter of solution.

Precipitation Gravimetry | A gravimetric method where a substance is precipitated out of a solution and weighed to determine its concentration.

Preconcentration | The process of increasing the concentration of an analyte in a sample prior to measurement to improve detection.

Propagation of Uncertainty | The process of calculating the uncertainty of a result derived from multiple measurements with associated uncertainties.

Quality Assurance | The systematic processes implemented to ensure the quality of laboratory results, including calibration, validation, and verification of methods.

Quality Control | A set of procedures to ensure that analytical measurements meet predefined standards and specifications.

Reagent Blank | A sample containing all the components of the test except the analyte, used to correct for the interference from reagents.

Redox Titrations | Titrations based on the transfer of electrons between the analyte and the titrant, often used to determine the concentration of oxidizing or reducing agents.

Regression Analysis | A statistical method for modeling the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables, especially useful in analytical chemistry for creating calibration curves.

Solubility Products | Equilibrium constants for the dissolution of sparingly soluble salts in water.

Spectroscopic Methods | Techniques that measure the interaction of light with matter to identify or quantify substances based on their absorption, emission, or scattering properties.

Standard Reduction Potentials | The tendency of a substance to gain electrons, used in electrochemical analysis.

Stoichiometry | The calculation of the quantities of reactants and products involved in chemical reactions.

Titration Curves | Graphs used in titrimetry to show the change in a property (like pH or conductivity) as a titrant is added.

Titrimetry | A quantitative analytical method where a reagent of known concentration is added to a solution of the analyte until the reaction reaches a known endpoint.

Uncertainty | A parameter that characterizes the dispersion of the values attributed to a measured quantity, often arising from instrumental limitations or experimental error.

Voltammetry | An electrochemical technique where the current is measured as a function of applied voltage to study the concentration of an analyte.

Weighing by Difference | A method for determining the mass of a substance by subtracting the mass of the container from the total mass after the substance is added.

X-ray Fluorescence | A type of spectroscopic technique that uses X-rays to analyze the elemental composition of materials.

Zero-Order Reactions | Reactions where the rate of reaction is independent of the concentration of the reactants.