Chem 454 First Exam Feb.

20, 2002

1. Cyclic voltammetry involves the measurement of a diffusion controlled _______________________ at an

electrode in which the _______________________ is controlled. (4 points)

2. (5 points) A. Sketch a cyclic voltammogram of a hypothetical reversible redox-couple: A + e = A-

ired

E+ E-
iox

2. (1 point) B. Indicate the approximate Eored of that redox species in part A on the graph above.

3. (5 points) Sketch a cyclic voltammogram in which the electrode product is consumed in a competing chemical
reaction:

A+e=P
P => D

Assume that the product, D is not observed in any further electrochemical reactions.

ired

E+ E-
iox
4. (5 points) Why is stripping voltammetry is the most sensitive of the polarographic techniques?

5. (10 points) A differential pulse polarogram gave a peak current of 10.1 µA for Cd2+ reduction for a 20.00 ml
water sample. A spike of 0.0100 ml of 0.025 M of Cd2+ to this sample volume gives a current of 23.1 µA. What
is the concentration of Cd2+ in the original sample?

Hint: consider that the volume after that spike did not significantly change (20.00 vs 20.01 ml)

6. (5 points) Illustrate the power density spectrum for flicker, environmental, and Johnson/Shot noises below:

Power
Density
Watts/Hz

0
Frequency, Hz
 7. (5 points) Double-beam spectrophotometers are an improvement over single beam instruments because:

8. (5 points) Generally bands rather than lines are observed for molecular absorption spectra because:

9. (10 points) Label the transitions (the large letters) in the following diagram:

S2

E
S1

T1

B
C

S0
10. (4 points) The upper and lower pH ranges for the glass pH electrode are _____________ to ______________.

11. (6 points) The detection limit of an instrumental method is defined as a ratio of _______ (_______/_______)

12. (5 points) The lifetime of fluoresence is generally _______________than that of phosphoresence.

13. (5 points) The wavelength of fluoresence is generally ________________than that of the corresponding
excitation.

14. (5 points) The background in voltammetry and polarography is attributable to ____________________ effects
at the electrode.

15. (4 points) The electrode material in polarography is _______________________________________

16. (6 points) Beer’s law is usually only obeyed if the analyte concentration is less than_______________ or the
absorbance signal is less than ___________________.

17. (10 points) You are investigating a new analytical method. A standard reference material of 4.41 %
(masss/mass) is use to validate the new method. You find that using the new method four replicate
measurements yields a mean analyte concentration of 4.83 % with a standard deviation of 0.38. Is that error
truly random within a 95% confidence level? That level is 3.182 for 3 degrees of freedom (Table 4-2).

t sσ
µ =x±
n
Chem 454 Exam 2 April 10, 2002

Name:________________________________________________

25 questions @ 4 points each

1] Describe the differences between phosphorescence and fluorescence. Which would you expect to have the
longer lifetime and why?

2] A GC analysis of trichloroethylene was conducted with a chlorobenzene internal standard. The 10.5 ppm
trichloroethylene solution with 6.80 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 1,266 and 909 respectively. An unknow
solution of trichloroethylene and 7.20 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 844 and 954 respectively. What is the
concentration of trichloroethylene in that sample?
3] Label what you expect to be the excitation and emission spectra of anthracene below.

4] Why you might expect anthracence to be efficient at fluorescence emissions.

a. Because it consists of an organic backbone

b. Because it has an extensive π-bonding backbone
c. Because it has an extensive σ-bonding backbone
d. Because it is a Lewis acid
e. Because it is a high molecular weight compound

5] The block diagrams describe the instrumentation for atomic

spectrometers. Label each for the technique normally associated
with it.

A ____________________________

B_____________________________

C_____________________________
6] What purpose or purposes does the flame serve in the techniques in question 5?

7] The Doppler phenomenon in atomic spectroscopies give is the basis for:

a. the background noise in AE

b. the maximum signal intensities
c. the detection limit
d. the line-broadening
e. the detector

8] Why does the graphite furnace hold an advantage over flame AA in terms of detection limit?

a. Because the atomic vapor plume formed by the furnace is more concentrated in atomic vapor than the
constant feed of flame AA
b. Because the furnace runs at a cooler temperature
c. Because the flame contains flicker noise
d. Because the furnace has a larger dynamic range
e. Because of the emission intensities of the furnace

9] Describe how the “A” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening.

10] Describe how the “B/u” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it inversely
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?

11] Describe how the “Cu” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it directly
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?
12] The separation efficiency of capillary columns over packed columns in GC is attributable to

a. lower operating temperatures

b. higher sample loading
c. B/u effects
d. chemical inertness
e. lower stationary phase volatility

13] The most common mobile phases in GC are

a. Ar, N2 and F2
b. N2O, C2H2, and O2
c. H2, Ar, and Ne
d. He, Ne, and Ar
e. H2, He, and N2

14] Split injections are required in GC capillary columns because

a. they require cooler operating temperatures

b. they are limited in terms of sample loading
c. they increase the reproducibility of sample injections
d. they require larger sample quantities relative to packed columns
e. they are notorious for biting back

15] Hollow cathode lamps are

a. broadband sources
b. the basis for lasers
c. used as a source for ICP
d. used as a source for AE
e. line sources

16] The ICP torch is based on

a. a C2H2/air flame
b. an electric spark
c. Ar+ in an RF magnetic field
d. a CH4/O2 flame
e. an electric arc

17] The resolution term in chromatographic separations is proportional to

a. tr
b. k’
c. H
d. L1/2
e. H1/2
18] The plate height in chromatography is best described as

a. resolution per unit length

b. variance per unit length
c. k’ per unit length
d. tr per unit length
e. nausea per unit length

19] Assume that we using a very nonpolar stationary phase in GC we can guess that elution times for the four
following analyte species can be ranked in terms of shortest to longest as:

I. Benzene II. Isopropanol III. Ethanol

a) I, II, III
b) II, I, III
c) I, III, II
d) III, II, I
e) III, I, II

20] The thermal conductivity detector, flame-ionization detector, and electron capture detector are respectively
sensitive to

a. electron withdrawing organics, all species, and organics

b. organics, electron withdrawing organics, and all species
c. all species, organics, and electron withdrawing organics
d. organics, all species, and electron withdrawing organics
e. electron withdrawing organics, organics, and all species

21] An example of a “hard” ionization source in mass spectroscopy is

a. electrospray
b. electron impact
c. chemical ionization
d. fast atom bombardment
e. MALDI

22] The resolution required to distinguish between two ions of m/e ratios of 44.01 and 44.03 can be calculated as

a. 10 x (44.03 – 44.01)
b. 44.02/(44.03 – 44.01)
c. (44.03 – 44.01)/1000
d. (44.03 – 44.01) x 100
e. (44.03 + 44.01)/44.02

23] In terms of highest to lowest resolution, the following mass analyzers can be ranked as:

a. TOF, quadrapole, double focusing

b. Quadrapole, TOF, double focusing
c. Double focusing, quadrapole, TOF
d. Double focusing, TOF, quadrapole
e. Quadrapole, double focusing, TOF
24] The ion sources in EI and CI share a common feature, which is that both have:

a. the same reagent gases

b. the same detection systems
c. the same high voltage electron source
d. the same ionization characteristics
e. the same analyte ionization principles

25] If we were to rank nonvolatile ionization sources in term of highest to lowest analyte MW’s the following
ranking would be correct:

a. electrospray, FAB, field desorption

b. FAB, electrospray, field desorption
c. Field desorption, FAB, electrospray
d. Field desorption, electrospray, FAB
e. all are about the same

Chem 454 Exam 2 - Answers April 10, 2002

25 questions @ 4 points each

1] Describe the differences between phosphorescence and fluorescence. Which would you expect to have the
longer lifetime and why?

Phosphorescence T => S transitions, spin forbidden, longer lifetimes

Fluorescence S => S transition

2] A GC analysis of trichloroethylene was conducted with a chlorobenzene internal standard. The 10.5 ppm
trichloroethylene solution with 6.80 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 1,266 and 909 respectively. An unknow
solution of trichloroethylene and 7.20 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 844 and 954 respectively. What is the
concentration of trichloroethylene in that sample?

10.5 ppm/1266 = F (6.80 ppm/909); F = 1.11

x/844 = 1.11 (7.20 ppm/954); x = 7.07 ppm

3] Label what you expect to be the excitation and emission spectra of anthracene below.

4] Why you might expect anthracence to be efficient at fluorescence emissions.

Because it has an extensive π-bonding backbone

5] The block diagrams describe the instrumentation for atomic

spectrometers. Label each for the technique normally associated
with it.

A] AE

B] AA

C] AF
6] What purpose or purposes does the flame serve in the techniques in question 5?

Atomization for all three, also excitation for AE

7] The Doppler phenomenon in atomic spectroscopies give is the basis for:

the line-broadening

8] Why does the graphite furnace hold an advantage over flame AA in terms of detection limit?

Because the atomic vapor plume formed by the furnace is more concentrated in atomic vapor than the
constant feed of flame AA

9] Describe how the “A” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening.

Multiple paths – read notes

10] Describe how the “B/u” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it inversely
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?

Longitudinal diffussion – read notes

11] Describe how the “Cu” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it directly
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?

MT – read notes

12] The separation efficiency of capillary columns over packed columns in GC is attributable to

B/u effects

13] The most common mobile phases in GC are

H2, He, and N2

14] Split injections are required in GC capillary columns because

they are limited in terms of sample loading

15] Hollow cathode lamps are

line sources
16] The ICP torch is based on

Ar+ in an RF magnetic field

17] The resolution term in chromatographic separations is proportional to

L1/2

18] The plate height in chromatography is best described as

variance per unit length

19] Assume that we using a very nonpolar stationary phase in GC we can guess that elution times for the four
following analyte species can be ranked in terms of shortest to longest as:

I. Benzene II. Isopropanol III. Ethanol

III, II, I

20] The thermal conductivity detector, flame-ionization detector, and electron capture detector are respectively
sensitive to

all species, organics, and electron withdrawing organics

21] An example of a “hard” ionization source in mass spectroscopy is

electron impact

22] The resolution required to distinguish between two ions of m/e ratios of 44.01 and 44.03 can be calculated as

44.02/(44.03 – 44.01)

23] In terms of highest to lowest resolution, the following mass analyzers can be ranked as:

Double focusing, quadrapole, TOF

24] The ion sources in EI and CI share a common feature, which is that both have:

the same high voltage electron source

the same detection systems

25] If we were to rank nonvolatile ionization sources in term of highest to lowest analyte MW’s the following
ranking would be correct:

electrospray, FAB, field desorption

Chem 454 Exam 2 April 10, 2002

Name:________________________________________________

25 questions @ 4 points each

1] Describe the differences between phosphorescence and fluorescence. Which would you expect to have the
longer lifetime and why?

2] A GC analysis of trichloroethylene was conducted with a chlorobenzene internal standard. The 10.5 ppm
trichloroethylene solution with 6.80 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 1,266 and 909 respectively. An unknow
solution of trichloroethylene and 7.20 ppm chlorobenzene gave signals of 844 and 954 respectively. What is the
concentration of trichloroethylene in that sample?

3] Label what you expect to be the excitation and emission spectra of anthracene below.

4] Why you might expect anthracence to be efficient at fluorescence emissions.

a. Because it consists of an organic backbone

b. Because it has an extensive π-bonding backbone
c. Because it has an extensive σ-bonding backbone
d. Because it is a Lewis acid
e. Because it is a high molecular weight compound
 5] The block diagrams describe the instrumentation for atomic
spectrometers. Label each for the technique normally associated
with it.

A ____________________________

B_____________________________

C_____________________________

6] What purpose or purposes does the flame serve in the techniques in question 5?

7] The Doppler phenomenon in atomic spectroscopies give is the basis for:

a. the background noise in AE

b. the maximum signal intensities
c. the detection limit
d. the line-broadening
e. the detector

8] Why does the graphite furnace hold an advantage over flame AA in terms of detection limit?

a. Because the atomic vapor plume formed by the furnace is more concentrated in atomic vapor than the
constant feed of flame AA
b. Because the furnace runs at a cooler temperature
c. Because the flame contains flicker noise
d. Because the furnace has a larger dynamic range
e. Because of the emission intensities of the furnace

9] Describe how the “A” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening.

10] Describe how the “B/u” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it inversely
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?
11] Describe how the “Cu” term of the van Deemter equation contributes to band broadening. Why is it directly
proportional to mobile phase flow rate?

12] The separation efficiency of capillary columns over packed columns in GC is attributable to

a. lower operating temperatures

b. higher sample loading
c. B/u effects
d. chemical inertness
e. lower stationary phase volatility

13] The most common mobile phases in GC are

a. Ar, N2 and F2
b. N2O, C2H2, and O2
c. H2, Ar, and Ne
d. He, Ne, and Ar
e. H2, He, and N2

14] Split injections are required in GC capillary columns because

a. they require cooler operating temperatures

b. they are limited in terms of sample loading
c. they increase the reproducibility of sample injections
d. they require larger sample quantities relative to packed columns
e. they are notorious for biting back

15] Hollow cathode lamps are

a. broadband sources
b. the basis for lasers
c. used as a source for ICP
d. used as a source for AE
e. line sources

16] The ICP torch is based on

a. a C2H2/air flame
b. an electric spark
c. Ar+ in an RF magnetic field
d. a CH4/O2 flame
e. an electric arc

17] The resolution term in chromatographic separations is proportional to

a. tr
b. k’
c. H
d. L1/2
e. H1/2
18] The plate height in chromatography is best described as

a. resolution per unit length

b. variance per unit length
c. k’ per unit length
d. tr per unit length
e. nausea per unit length

19] Assume that we using a very nonpolar stationary phase in GC we can guess that elution times for the four
following analyte species can be ranked in terms of shortest to longest as:

I. Benzene II. Isopropanol III. Ethanol

a) I, II, III
b) II, I, III
c) I, III, II
d) III, II, I
e) III, I, II

20] The thermal conductivity detector, flame-ionization detector, and electron capture detector are respectively
sensitive to

a. electron withdrawing organics, all species, and organics

b. organics, electron withdrawing organics, and all species
c. all species, organics, and electron withdrawing organics
d. organics, all species, and electron withdrawing organics
e. electron withdrawing organics, organics, and all species

21] An example of a “hard” ionization source in mass spectroscopy is

a. electrospray
b. electron impact
c. chemical ionization
d. fast atom bombardment
e. MALDI

22] The resolution required to distinguish between two ions of m/e ratios of 44.01 and 44.03 can be calculated as

a. 10 x (44.03 – 44.01)
b. 44.02/(44.03 – 44.01)
c. (44.03 – 44.01)/1000
d. (44.03 – 44.01) x 100
e. (44.03 + 44.01)/44.02

23] In terms of highest to lowest resolution, the following mass analyzers can be ranked as:

a. TOF, quadrapole, double focusing

b. Quadrapole, TOF, double focusing
c. Double focusing, quadrapole, TOF
d. Double focusing, TOF, quadrapole
 e. Quadrapole, double focusing, TOF
24] The ion sources in EI and CI share a common feature, which is that both have:

a. the same reagent gases

b. the same detection systems
c. the same high voltage electron source
d. the same ionization characteristics
e. the same analyte ionization principles

25] If we were to rank nonvolatile ionization sources in term of highest to lowest analyte MW’s the following
ranking would be correct:

a. electrospray, FAB, field desorption

b. FAB, electrospray, field desorption
c. Field desorption, FAB, electrospray
d. Field desorption, electrospray, FAB
e. all are about the same