Objectives and competences
Provide fundamentals of some instrumental methods of analysis: molecular absorption spectrophotometry, absorption and atomic emission spectrophotometry; chromatography, potentiometry and conductimetry.
Understand the concepts and operation of the equipment corresponding to the instrumental methods in question.
Calculate concentrations of chemical parameters in different types of samples, and expressed in different units.
Interpret the results obtained and assess whether they are credible. Estimate precision, accuracy, sensitivity and detection limit.
Prepare a report of an instrumental chemical analysis.
In view of the analytical problem that is faced, select the most appropriate methodology to solve the problem in question.
Handle analytical instrumentation scientifically correct, expeditiously, and safely.
Teaching Methodologies
Lectures common to all groups, with great interaction with students, accompanied by theoretical-practical classes for solving application problems, carried out in class, usually with a number of students less than 20.
Laboratory classes (#10 assignments), involving the manipulation of instrumental methods discussed in theoretical classes, followed by an evaluation laboratory class.
Syllabus
Program of Lectures
- Introduction to instrumental methods of analysis
- Electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter
- Absorption spectrophotometry
- Molecular absorption spectrophotometry (UV/Vis)
- Atomic absorption and emission spectrophotometry
- Chromatography; gas chromatography; liquid phase chromatography
- Potentiometry
- Conductimetry
Program of Theoretical-Practical and Laboratory Classes
Exercises involving electromagnetic radiation, quantitative aspects of Beer's law, sketch of titration curves using inert, active and ion selective (ESI) electrodes, direct potentiometry, quantitative methods in chromatography, conductometric measurements.
Practical work (#10)
Spectrophotometric measurements: quantitative (calibration curves using color development reactions), spectrophotometric titrations, and qualitative (tracing of absorption spectra). Potentiometric measurements (study of an ESI, determinations by the calibration curve method and by potentiometric titration). Atomic absorption and emission spectrometry. Conductometric measurements. Chromatographic methods.
