Test Equipment Calibration and Result Calculation

These flashcards cover key terminology related to testing equipment calibration and calculating final results in laboratory settings.

pH Sensor

A device used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

A measure of the amount of oxygen that microorganisms will consume while decomposing organic matter in water.

Total Solids

The total weight of all solids present in a given volume of water, including suspended and dissolved solids.

Turbidity Sensor

A device used to measure the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid, which can be caused by large numbers of individual particles.

Nitrate ISE (Ion Selective Electrode)

An electrode that measures the concentration of nitrate ions in a solution.

Calibration

The process of adjusting an instrument to ensure its readings are accurate.

Mean/Average

The sum of a list of numbers divided by the count of those numbers.

SpectroVis

A spectrophotometer that is used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths.

Dilutions

The process of reducing the concentration of a solute in a solution.

Cuvette

A small, often rectangular, optical pathway that holds liquids for spectroscopic experiments.

Testing pH with a pH Sensor

1. Calibrate the pH sensor using standard solutions.
2. Rinse the sensor with distilled water and immerse it in the sample solution.
3. Wait for the reading to stabilize, then record the pH value.

Measuring BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

1. Take a water sample and dilute it to the desired concentration.
2. Incubate for 5 days at 20°C.
3. Measure the dissolved oxygen before and after incubation, and calculate BOD using the difference in oxygen levels.

Total Solids Measurement

1. Obtain a water sample and weigh it.
2. Filter the sample to remove large particles.
3. Evaporate water from the filtered solids, then dry the residue to a constant weight before measuring the total mass.

Turbidity Testing with Turbidity Sensor

1. Calibrate the turbidity sensor with known standards.
2. Rinse the sensor in distilled water.
3. Place the sensor in the sample and record the turbidity readings based on light scattering.

Measuring Nitrate with an Ion Selective Electrode

1. Calibrate the nitrate ISE with standard solutions.
2. Rinse the electrode with distilled water.
3. Immerse the electrode in the sample solution and record the nitrate concentration.

Calibration of Instruments

1. Use standard solutions or known references for the calibration process.
2. Adjust the instrument settings to achieve accurate readings based on these references.

Calculating Mean/Average

1. Sum all the measurements or data points.
2. Divide the total by the number of data points to obtain the average.

Using a SpectroVis

1. Calibrate the spectral device using blank solutions.
2. Run the spectrophotometer through the wavelength range and analyze absorption data at different wavelengths.

Making Dilutions

1. Calculate the desired concentration and volume of the solution.
2. Use a pipette to measure the solute and dilute to the desired volume with solvent.

Using a Cuvette for Spectroscopy

1. Clean the cuvette and fill it with the sample solution.
2. Make sure the optical pathway is clear and insert it into the spectrophotometer for analysis.