Capabilities and Limitations of Geochemical Instruments
Initial Publication Date: June 6, 2013
Summary
The purpose of this exercise is to understand the capability and limitations of several instruments (AA, ICP-OES, ICP-MS) used for geochemical analysis. Students compare and contrast the cost, detection limits, etc. of these instruments.
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Context
Audience
This assignment has been used in an upper-level environmental geochemistry course.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
unit conversions, understanding limit of detection
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity can be a stand alone exercise, or given at the beginning of the quarter before students start analyzing samples in the lab.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
limit of detection
EPA drinking water standards
types of analytical equipment used in geochemical analysis
EPA drinking water standards
types of analytical equipment used in geochemical analysis
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
analysis of information
evaluation of analytical equipment
evaluation of analytical equipment
Other skills goals for this activity
writing
unit conversions
unit conversions
Description and Teaching Materials
Items needed for this activity:
Student assignment (file)
"Guide to Inorganic Analysis" by Perkin Elmer (file)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Students have difficulty understanding that the detection limit for a particular element should be lower (and not higher) than the actual or expected concentration in the sample.
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Assessment
Each question is worth a set number of points (which are written next to each question on the assignment). Total number of points for this assignment is 100.