What is Analytical Chemistry?

• Optimizing Analyses
• Becoming a Problem Solver
• Sampling

Making Measurements Properly

• Recording Observations
• Measured and Computed Values
• Significant Figures
• Numbers with Units

What to Measure & How to Measure It

• The Metric System
• Measuring Length, Volume, and Mass
• Time & Temperature
• Pressure & Density
• The Mole
• Concentrations

1st In-Class Problem Set

Quantifying Measurement Error

• Sources of Error
• Random Error
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratios
  • Getting Rid of Noise
• Systematic Error
• Precision and Accuracy

Statistics for Chemical Measurements

• Mode, Median, & Mean
• The Standard Deviation
• Confidence Limits

Calibrations 

• Plotting & Interpreting Lines
• Calibration Checks
• Calibration Applicability
• Outliers: Are the Data Correct?

2nd In-Class Problem Set

Introduction to Chromatography

• Basic Theory
• Modeling a Separation
• Peak Widths
• Resolution
• Optimizing Separations
• Gas Chromatography (GC)
• High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 

Molecular Spectroscopy 

• Terms & Definitions
• The Properties of Light
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
  • Instrumentation
  • Sample Preparation: ATR
  • Applications
• Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy
  • Theory
  • Instrumentation
• Mass Spectrometry
  • Spectrometer Types
  • Ionization Techniques
  • Applications
  • GC-MS
  • Intro. to Mass Spectral Interpretation

3rd In-Class Problem Set

Quantitative Absorption Spectroscopy

• Beer’s Law
• Variables to Control and Pitfalls to Avoid
• Calibration and Prediction

• Atomic Absorption
  • Lamps
  • Atomizers
  • Detectors
  • Quantitative Analysis
• Inductively Couples Plasma (ICP)
  • Overview
  • Sample Introduction
  • Quantitative Techniques

4th In-Class Problem Set

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