ANALYTICAL METHODS

Atomic absorption The process by which unexcited atoms in a flame, furnace, or plasma absorb
characteristic radiation from a radiation source and attenuate the radiant power of the source.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) An analytical method that is based on absorption of
electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in a reservoir of analyte atoms. Atomic emission The emission of radiation
by atoms that have been excited in a plasma, a flame, or an electric arc or spark.
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) An analytical method based on emission of electromagnetic radiation
from atoms in a reservoir. Atomic fluorescence Radiant emission from atoms that have been excited by
absorption of electromagnetic radiation.
Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS) An analytical method based on measuring the intensity of EMR
from fluorescent atoms in a reservoir
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) Column chromatography in which the mobile phase
is a liquid, often forced through a stationary phase by pressure.
Flame emission spectroscopy Method that uses a flame to cause an atomized analyte to emit its
characteristic emission spectrum; also known as flame photometry.
Flame ionization detector (FID) A detector for gas chromatography based on the collection of ions
produced during the pyrolysis of organic analytes in a flame.
Fluorescence Radiation produced by an atom or a molecule that has been excited by photons to a singlet
excited state.
Molecular fluorescence is measured by exciting the sample at an absorption wavelength, also called the excitation wavelength,
and measuring the emission at a longer wavelength called the emission or fluorescence wavelength. Chemiluminescence is
produced when a chemical reaction yields an electronically excited molecule, which emits light as it returns to the ground state.
Chemiluminescence reactions occur in a number of biological systems, where the process is often termed, bioluminescence.
Examples of species exhibiting bioluminescence include the firefly, the sea pansy, certain jellyfish, bacteria, protozoa, and
crustacea. One attractive feature of chemiluminescence for analytical uses is the very simple instrumentation required. Since no
external source of radiation is needed for excitation, the instrument may consist of only a reaction vessel and a photomultiplier
tube. Generally, no wavelength selection device is needed because the only source of radiation is the emission caused by the
chemical reaction

Luminescence Radiation resulting from photoexcitation (photoluminescence), chemical excitation

(chemiluminescence), or thermal excitation (thermoluminescence).
The short-lived emission that occurs is called fluorescence, while luminescence that is much longer lasting is called
phosphorescence

Electrophoresis A separation method based on the differential rates of migration of charged species in an
electric field.
Atomization A process in which a sample is converted into gas-phase atoms or elementary ions
Atomic spectroscopic methods are used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of more than 70 elements. Typically,
these methods can detect parts-per million to parts-per-billion amounts, and in some cases, even smaller concentrations. Atomic
spectroscopic methods are also rapid, convenient, and usually of high selectivity. These methods can be divided into two groups;
optical atomic spectrometry and atomic mass spectrometry. Consequently, the first step in all atomic spectroscopic procedures is
atomization, a process in which a sample is volatilized and decomposed in such a way as to produce gas-phase atoms and ions.
The efficiency and reproducibility of the atomization step can have a large influence on the sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of
the method. In short, atomization is a critical step in atomic spectroscopy.

High-performance adsorption chromatography Synonymous with liquid-solid chromatography. see also

adsorption chromatography. High-performance ion-exchange chromatography See ion chromatography.
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy A method that uses an inert gas (usually argon) plasma
formed by the absorption of radio-frequency radiation to atomize and excite a sample for atomic emission
spectroscopy.
Ion chromatography An HPLC technique based on the partitioning of ionic species between a liquid
mobile phase and a solid polymeric ionic exchanger; also called ion-exchange chromatography.
Spectrometric methods Methods based on the absorption, emission, or fluorescence of electromagnetic
radiation that is related to the amount of analyte in the sample.
Mass spectrometry Methods based on forming ions in the gas phase and separating them on the basis of
mass-to-charge ratio.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful and versatile analytical tool for obtaining information about the identity of an unknown
compound, its molecular mass, its elemental composition, and in many cases, its chemical structure. Mass spectrometry can be
conveniently divided into atomic, or elemental, mass spectrometry and molecular mass spectrometry. Atomic mass spectrometry is
a quantitative tool that can determine nearly all the elements in the periodic table. Detection limits are often several orders of
magnitude better than optical methods. On the other hand, molecular mass spectrometry is capable of providing information about
the structures of inorganic, organic, and biological molecules and about the qualitative and quantitative composition of complex
mixtures. We first discuss the principles that are common to all forms of mass spectrometry and the components that constitute a
mass spectrometer.

Spectroscopy A general term used to describe techniques based on the measurement of absorption,
emission, or luminescence of electromagnetic radiation.
Titrimetry The process of systematically introducing an amount of titrant that is chemically equivalent to
the quantity of analyte in a sample.
Chromatography A term for methods of separation based on the interaction of species with a stationary
phase while they are being transported by a mobile phase.
Gravimetric analysis A group of analytical methods in which the amount of analyte is established through
the measurement of the mass of a pure substance containing the analyte.
Wet Ashing The use of strong liquid oxidizing reagents to decompose the organic matter in a sample
Partition chromatography A type of chromatography based on the distribution of solutes between a liquid
mobile phase and a liquid stationary phase retained on the surface of a solid.
Spectrometer An instrument equipped with a monochromator or a polychromator, a photodetector, and an
electronic readout that displays a number proportional to the intensity of an isolated spectral band.
Spectrophotometer A spectrometer designed for the measurement of the absorption of ultraviolet, visible,
or infrared radiation. The instrument includes a source of radiation, a monochromator, and an electrical
means of measuring the ratio of the intensities of the sample and reference beams.
Back-titration The titration of an excess of a standard solution that has reacted completely with an analyte.
Buffer capacity The number of moles of strong acid (or strong base) needed to change the pH of 1.00 L of a
buffer solution by 1.00 unit.
Buffer solutions Solutions that tend to resist changes in pH as the result of dilution or the addition of small
amounts of acids or bases.
The absorption law, also known as the Beer-Lambert law or just Beer’s law, tells us quantitatively how the
amount of attenuation depends on the concentration of the absorbing molecules and the path length over
which absorption occurs.The transmittance T of the solution is the fraction of incident radiation transmitted
by the solution, The absorbance, A, of a solution is related to the transmittance in a logarithmic manne
Two types of spectrometers are used in IR spectroscopy: the dispersive type and the Fourier transform
variety
Gel filtration is a type of size exclusion chromatography in which the packing is hydrophilic. It is used to
separate polar species. Gel permeation is a type of size exclusion chromatography in which the packing is
hydrophobic. It is used to separate nonpolar species.