volumetric flask and diluting to volume. Calibration standards of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0,
and 5.0 ppm are prepared by transferring appropriate amounts of the 10.0 ppm
working solution into separate 50-mL volumetric flasks, each containing 5 mL of
thioglycolic acid, 2 mL of 20% w/v ammonium citrate, and 5 mL of 0.22 M NHs3.
After diluting to volume and mixing, the absorbances of the external standards
are measured against an appropriate blank. Samples are prepared for analysis by
taking a portion known to contain approximately 0.1 g of Fe**, dissolving in a
minimum amount of HNO3 and diluting to volume in a 1-L volumetric flask.
A 1.00-mL aliquot of this solution is transferred to a 50-mL volumetric flask, along
with 5 mL of thioglycolic acid, 2 mL of 20% w/v ammonium citrate, and 5 mL of
0.22 M NH3 and diluted to volume. The absorbance of this solution is used to
determine the concentration of Fe* in the sample.
(a) What is an appropriate blank for this procedure?
(2)
(b) Ammonium citrate is added to prevent the precipitation of Al?*. What is the effect
on the reported concentration of iron in the sample if there is a trace impurity of
Fe?* in the ammonium citrate?
(2)
(c) Why does the procedure specify that the sample contains about 0.1 g of Fe?*?
(3)
3.2 (a) Define an internal standard.
(1)
(b) What is the basic principle of internal standardisation?
(2)
(c) When do you use an internal standard?
(3)
3.3 Many of the analytical methods used to determine the concentration of fibrinogen
in plasma are based on light scattering following its precipitation. Light scattering
is measured nephelometrically at a wavelength of 340 nm. Analysis of a set of
external calibration standards gives the following calibration equation
Is = -4.66 + 9907.63 x C
where Is is the intensity of scattered light and C is the concentration of fibrinogen in
g/L. A9.0-mL sample of plasma was collected from a patient and mixed with 1.0 mL
of an anticoagulating agent. A 1.0-mL aliquot of this solution was then diluted to
250 mL in a volumetric flask. Analysis of the resulting solution gave a scattering
intensity of 44.70. What is the concentration of fibrinogen, in gram per liter, in the
plasma sample?
(4)
3.4 Give three disadvantages of the isotope dilution method.
(3)
Question 4
[30]
4.1 The following diagram describes different spectrometric techniques labelled A to D.