Week 1
Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
by Tan Ching Mun (16002662)This course is designed to equip students with the fundamental of analytical chemistry. The learning outcomes of this course is to make sure students to apply the analytical principle and the statistic method in data handling for reliability and significant results. Next, it also equips the students with the ability to assess and suggest a suitable analytical method for a specific purpose, and evaluate sensitivity, important sources of interference and error, and suggest alternative analytical methods for quality assurance.
There is a total of 5 topics that will be covered by the course throughout the semester, namely: Introduction, Gravimetry, Spectrophotometry, Atomic Spectroscopy, Molecular Spectroscopy, and Chromatographic.
Before we start the online class, AP Dr. Bawadi has prepared two videos about Analytical Chemistry to make sure we could understand briefly about the course. Through the first video, I learned that:
Analytical Chemistry
-a branch of sciences that allow us to measure qualitatively & quantitatively for any chemical substances of nature.
-deals with the separation, identification and determination of component in a sample.
Application of Analytical Chemistry in daily life/ laboratory:
Analytical Chemistry
-a branch of sciences that allow us to measure qualitatively & quantitatively for any chemical substances of nature.
-deals with the separation, identification and determination of component in a sample.
Application of Analytical Chemistry in daily life/ laboratory:
- Pregnancy Test
- Kitchen Scale
- Weighing Scale
- Conical Flask
Key elements that distinguish science from hobby:
- Calibration
- Chemical Analysis
- Interpretations of results
Video 1: What Is Analytical Chemistry?
In the second video, AP Dr. Bawadi explained the Differences between Accuracy & Precision. These two are often being mixed up by the students.
Accuracy:
Good precision≠good accuracy!
High repeatability of measurements≠right answer
Types of Errors
Random Errors (indeterminant errors)
Accuracy:
- The most important index in Analytical Chemistry.
- A degree of agreement between measured & true values
(measurement is close to true value=high accuracy)
- A degree of agreement between replicate measurements of the same quantity
- The repeatability of the result, getting similar results for every try
Good precision≠good accuracy!
High repeatability of measurements≠right answer
Types of Errors
Random Errors (indeterminant errors)
- exposed by small differences in successive measurements made under similar condition
- cannot be predicted or estimated
- always follow the normal distribution/Gaussian curve
- reduces precision
- E.g. Instrumental error (faulty & uncalibrated equipment)
-can be solved by proper calibration - E.g. wrong methodology/operative errors
Next, we were introduced to the discipline of Analytical Chemistry, namely Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. Below are some brief notes that I have taken for Chapter 1.
Notes:
- The standard reference materials is one of the best ways to reduce the systematic errors.
- A blank must not contain any analyte and solvents.
- Relative error is more useful than absolute error.
REFLECTION
This was my first analytical chemistry class with AP Dr. Bawadi through MSTEAM. We couldn't use the bbb platform to have the class as Ulearn was clashing. However, our lecture was able to conduct the first session successfully. In the first lecture, we were briefed about creating our own E-portfolio. To be honest, I felt a little pressured as I have not done one before. From my perspective, we have to update the website consistently as we must submit it for evaluation on Week 5 and Week 10 if I am not mistaken. Hopefully, I could keep it up and be able to recap the knowledge when I am writing my experience here. Overall, my first online class was great with the guidance of our lecturer. Padlet and Mentimeter were used by our lecturer to encourage active learning and interaction with the students. I wish AP Dr. Bawadi could continue engaging with the students in the coming lectures. After attending the class, my best takeaway knowledge is the difference between precision vs accuracy and systematic vs random error. For Week 1, there is no tutorial session.
See you on the next topic!
This was my first analytical chemistry class with AP Dr. Bawadi through MSTEAM. We couldn't use the bbb platform to have the class as Ulearn was clashing. However, our lecture was able to conduct the first session successfully. In the first lecture, we were briefed about creating our own E-portfolio. To be honest, I felt a little pressured as I have not done one before. From my perspective, we have to update the website consistently as we must submit it for evaluation on Week 5 and Week 10 if I am not mistaken. Hopefully, I could keep it up and be able to recap the knowledge when I am writing my experience here. Overall, my first online class was great with the guidance of our lecturer. Padlet and Mentimeter were used by our lecturer to encourage active learning and interaction with the students. I wish AP Dr. Bawadi could continue engaging with the students in the coming lectures. After attending the class, my best takeaway knowledge is the difference between precision vs accuracy and systematic vs random error. For Week 1, there is no tutorial session.
See you on the next topic!
