STATISTICAL

FOR
ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
STKK1233 2021/2022 S1
GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1
DR WAN NUR AINI WAN MOKHTAR
Why do we care about statistics?

Ø Provide numerical information

to make good decisions or
conclusions
Ø High probability vs. low
probability
Ø Right vs. wrong
https://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2016/skills-stability/
no number (i.e.
Similarly with
measured number) or
uncertainty
data is free from error.

Error is always present

in any analysis

Every measurement has

uncertainty, therefore you
can never be completely
certain about any
measurement or number –
exception: exact numbers
QUALITATIVE vs QUANTITATIVE DATA
• The numbers recorded in a measurement (all the certain numbers plus the
first uncertainty number)
OR

• The number of digits necessary to express the results of a measurement

consistent with the measured precision

• The number of significant figures is the minimum number of digits required

to express a certain value in a scientific notation without loss of accuracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T49K5H4A-YQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b38hFWvEjwI
Errors that occur at all measurements do not have specific
values and are unpredictable.

Characteristics of indeterminate errors:

Cause of error is unknown
Spread randomly around the middle value
Usually small
Have effects on precision of measurement
Cannot be corrected
 STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF RANDOM ERROR

Random errors follows the normal distribution

https://slideplayer.com/slide/12479536 /
The Best Value (Central Value)
Exercise
Determination No. Observed weight (ppm)
1 15.4
2 17.3
3 16.2
4 14.8
• Rejection of outliers (Q-test / Dixon’s)
• Defining the confidence interval
• Determination of #replicate measurement required
• Estimating the probability that an experimental mean and true
value are different or that two experiments are different
• Treating calibration data

https://slideplayer.com/slide/14492625/
Q-test
(Dixon’s) –
Rejecting
Outliers
Atomic absorption analysis for copper
concentration in aircraft engine oil gave a value of
8.53 µg Cu/mL. Pooled results of many analyses
showed s  σ = 0.32 µg Cu/mL. Calculate 90%
and 99% confidence limits if the above results were
based on 4 measurements
Analysis of an insecticide gave the following values for % of the chemical lindane:
7.47, 6.98 and 7.27. Calculate the CL for the mean value at the 90% confidence level.