Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: intelibp1600 on April 18, 2006, 09:58:14 PM
-
A 12-ppm solution of lead gives an atomic absorption signal of 8.0% absorption. What is the atomic absorption sensitivity?
I don't know how to start this problem or which equation to use. Appreciate it if someone can help. Thanks!
-
If 12 ppm corresponds to a 8 % absorption then 1ppm would correspond to 8/12 % = 0.7%.
So the atomic absorption sensitivity should correspond to a 0.7% absorbance increase with every 1ppm increase in lead concentration.
-
or 0.67%/ppm with significant figures ;)
-
Sensitivity has a precise definition in analytical chemistry. See section 14 in this link (http://www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/files/ambient/inorganic/mthd-3-2.pdf).
Sensitivity is the concentration of a given element that will absorb 1 % of incident radiation. Thus, A = - log T where T = 0.99 or 1 % absorbed = 0.0044 absorbance units
Absorbance = 8 % presumably means that transmittance is 0.92
A = - l og 0.92 = 0.0362
My take would than be that the sensitivity for lead is 12 ppm* 0.0044 / 0.0362 = 1.46 ppm
-
Thanks so much for the *delete me*
-
Sensitivity has a precise definition in analytical chemistry.
More information please.
-
Mike,
My mistake. I believe you are correct. Since absorbance is by definition unitless (a logarithm), I always filter a % answer as transmittance and then back calculate the absorbance. If the absorbance were actually 0.08 (not 8 %), then your answer is correct 12* (.0044/.08) = 0.66.
-
I went to my TA today about this question and he told me it's calculated by (12/8)X100.
-
So he/she says that Atomic Absorption Sensitivity is: ( 12 ppm / 8.0 % ) × 100%
In other words, sensitivity is the ppm increase in concentration given by a 1% increase in absorbance.
This whole analytical sensitivity thing is crazy. Different standards everywhere, as this post has demonstrated. I did some digging, and it's definitely not uncommon for AA sensitivity to be described this way. Question 7.6 at http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/orc_demo/freelecturer/solutions/sols_ch07.pdf does it that way, and many other do to.
It's a convention. One that few of us knew about. I can't say whether or not Dude or mike knew...but I can honestly say that I've learned from this experience as well. Your TA is right.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. Ironically enough, if you google "ppm atomic absorption sensitivity"... the #5 hit is this forum! http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=ppm+%22atomic+absorption+sensitivity%22&meta=