April 27, 2024, 03:56:50 AM
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Topic: Beer's Law: Determining the concentration of benzoic acid and caffeine in soda  (Read 9782 times)

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Offline blast_

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Considering the following equations:


D= b(E'xE''y - E''xE'y)

I need to determine the concentration of benzoic acid and caffeine in different beverages.

Here are my graphs of my standards:



I know my slopes are the epsilon values(molar absorptivities), but I don't know which ones to assign to E'x,E''x,E'y, and E''y. (E = epsilon)

Also... Here are my absorbances at wavelengths 230.1 and 275.1. 



I'm pretty sure I use:
A'= .9234
A''= .4061
for determining concentrations for mountain dew.

I've tried it a million different ways and I'm getting concentrations of caffeine like 11.442M, 22.01M, and other concentrations that are outrageous.  I'm definitely doing something wrong.  Can someone help?

Thanks!!!

Offline FeLiXe

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did you consider the benzoic acid absorption?

these things come down to a linear equation system

A1 = cA*epsA1 + cB*epsB1
A2 = cA*epsA2 + cB*epsB2

where A and B are your substances, 1 and 2 the wavelengths
the epsilons you get from your regression
A1 and A2 from your measurement in mountain dew
Math and alcohol don't mix, so... please, don't drink and derive!

Offline ARGOS++

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Dear Blast_;

IMHO –  Forget this Experiment!, as sooner as possible the better,  except you have in mind to redo the whole work with much better preparation and measuring conditions!
Sorry!

I have redraw one of your calibrations with a little better “View” in the Attachment!
I don’t know you are already able to see the whole Disaster.

The second picture shows the same; expect that I “corrected” two measuring points of your calibration.
It is still the same dilemma, but it’s a little bit “closer” to your wrong Measuring-Reality!

I have in the moment to leave for a few Hours, but after I will have time for a more detailed discussion.
(Sorry for this delay!)


Good Luck!
                    ARGOS++


Offline ARGOS++

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Dear Blast_;

Do you have already any Assumption what may went wrong?

Good Luck!
                    ARGOS++


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