Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Final Exam Terms

Population

an amount of material that has the same characteristic (e.g. concentration) from which we take a sample for analysis

Sample

a small portion of a population, taken for analysis, which accurately represents the composition of the population

Outlier

a measurement result that appears to be from a different population than other replicate data in the same set

Peptization

the process in which a coagulated precipitate returns to its colloid dispersed state

Endpoint

the point in a titration when a physical/chemical change is observed in association with the equivalence point; used to estimate the equivalence point of a titration

Titration Curve

the plot of the negative log of the concentration of a titration reaction species as a function of titrant volume added

Back Titration

the process in which an excess of a titrant (e.g. strong acid) is deliberately added to a solution of a standard/unknown, and the excess is titrated with a second titrant (e.g. strong base) solution to obtain a sharper/clearer titration endpoint

Monochromator

an optical device that transmits a mechanically selectable narrow band of wavelengths of light chosen from a wider range

Light source

an incandescent bulb that emits a spectrum of light in the UV/visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. It must produce a stable (over-time), high power output

Nernst Equation

Mathematical equation relating electrochemical potential to concentration of aqueous species