Assessment of Four Inter-Comparison Exercises in Organic Elemental Analysis

 Four inter-comparison exercises on organic elemental analysis were carried out between 1997 and 2001 by the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the University of Barcelona, together with the Microanalysis Service and the Institute of the Marine Sciences, which both belong to the CSIC in Barcelona, and the University of A Coru?a. More than sixty laboratories participated in these exercises. Here we describe the design and characteristics of the trials, the samples and the homogeneity tests applied. We report the results obtained for the analysis of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, their statistical analysis, and the most relevant aspects of the technical discussion meetings. Received December 20, 2001; accepted March 18, 2002; published online July 22, 2002     

An overview of laboratory performance studies conducted by the IAEA for marine pollution studies of metals and organic contaminants

Aspects of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Analytical Quality Control Services (AQCS) for marine environmental studies are discussed, focusing on recent laboratory performance studies (LPS) and the production of reference materials for trace metals and organic compounds in various marine matrices. The IAEA has organized seventeen global interlaboratory studies for a range of organic contaminants. Of note has been the inclusion of numerous polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and some sterols of anthropogenic origin. Concurrently, there have been eleven worldwide intercomparison exercises for trace metals in the marine environment, most of which included methylmercury. Although such interlaboratory studies can help improve performance in individual laboratories and regional laboratory networks, the results reveal that problems remain in the determination of some metals and many organic contaminants.     

Determination of 19-norandrosterone in CCQM-P68. NIST results using an isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) participated in an international interlaboratory study under the auspices of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM) for the determination of 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) in urine, the principal metabolite of nandrolone and certain other synthetic testosterone substitutes banned for use by the World Antidoping Agency (WADA). Prior to this study, NIST developed a candidate reference measurement procedure based upon isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. This method was applied to a urine sample distributed to the participants in the study by the Australian National Measurement Institute, Pymble, Australia (NMIA). The NIST results were in very good agreement with those from the other participants, all of whom used methods based upon gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All known significant sources of uncertainty were evaluated, resulting in a relative expanded uncertainty of less than 5% (coverage factor k = 2).     

化学学科核心素养在高中教材习题中的表现—以人教版教材为例

教材习题是落实新课标倡导的基于化学学科核心素养进行评价的重要载体。以化学学科核心素养的水平划分和学业质量水平为依据,分析人教版高中必修化学教材课后习题考查的核心素养及其水平。结果表明,2007年版和2019年版教材均注重全面考查核心素养和对基础性的考查,突出考查宏观辨识与微观探析素养,突出化学本质;但2019年版教材习题在数量上有所减少,加强了科学思维和科学实践的考查,合理拓展了核心素养考查的广度和深度。最后,依据习题特征获得相应的教学启示,以促进学生核心素养的发展。     

Laboratory Performance Evaluation on Analysis of Cadmium and Lead in Herb through Participation in the Regional Laboratory Comparison APMP QM-P10

The ubiquitous presence of heavy metals in the environment arising from various natural and anthropogenic activities have led to the accumulation intrusion of these substances into agricultural products including herbal plants. With the rapid growth of herbal medicine trade market, extensive surveillance monitoring and laboratory testing of heavy metals in herbal samples are carried out worldwide nowadays. Those surveillance activities are very much rely on the quality of the data produced by analytical laboratory. As analysis of heavy metals have been one of several main interests of our laboratory of Research Center for Chemistry, then participation on the international laboratory comparison such as APMP.QM-P10: Cadmium and Lead in Herb is a valuable effort for evaluate laboratory performance in this area of analysis. Several trial run and validation had been performed on the proficiency samples, including sample preparation, level of method blanks, use of matrix modifiers, precision and also trueness check using suitable reference material. Z-scores of 0.787 and 1.105 for cadmium and lead respectively have obtained as result of participation. It was found that the z-scores were satisfactory compared to the satisfactory limit of -2 ≥ z-score ≤ 2. These results provide strong confirmation of maintained capability of Research Center for Chemistry on heavy metals analysis, particulary in herb.     

Pushing exercise program to correct glottal incompetence

A voice therapy program using pushing exercises to correct glottal incompetence is described. The program utilizes various types of instrumentation to determine whether or not a given patient is likely to benefit from the treatment. The program also provides feedback of target voices. Three cases with incomplete glottal closure and subsequent vocal dysphonia characterized by an asthenic breathy quality are used to illustrate the program. Details of the program, termination criteria, and problems and precautions learned from treating 29 patients over a 3-year period are presented.     

A journey through quality control

The Euroanalysis VII conference in Vienna included a two-day session: Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry. The contributions comprised 15 lectures devoted to: intra-laboratory quality measures, inter-laboratory control, formal aspects and accreditation and implementation. The paper presents an overview of the main items developed by the contributors.A survey on the session on Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry of Euroanalysis VIIThe authors thank the organizers of EUROANALYSIS VII and in particular Dr. B. Griepink and Dr. E. Maier of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the CEC for their support and considerable contributions.     

Analysis of a copper alloy: Comité Consultatif pour la Quantite de Matière (CCQM) pilot study P76 international intercomparison

The capabilities of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and selected outside “expert” laboratories of determining the mass fractions of the main and minor elements Cu, Pb, Sn, Fe, and Ni in a lead-containing brass were assessed. This pilot study P76 was organized as an activity of the Inorganic Analysis Working Group of CCQM and was piloted by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). In total 12 laboratories (four NMIs and eight outside labs) submitted results, some of them more than one set of results per element. The laboratories were free to choose any analytical method they wanted to use for the analysis. Consequently various methods of measurement were employed: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), instrumental neutron-activation analysis (INAA), titrimetry, flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (FAAS), spectrophotometry (MAS), electrogravimetry, and gravimetric analysis. After testing for homogeneity within BAM, a certified reference material of lead-containing brass was used as test sample without informing the participants about the source of the material. The agreement of the results for all elements investigated was acceptable and mean values calculated from the results of all participants were close to the certified mass fractions of the CRM used as test sample. No statistically significant differences between the results of the NMIs and those of the non-NMIs could be observed.     

化学热力学综合性习题的设计

物理化学习题的设计往往存在如下问题,如专题性太强、综合性不够;在热化学等内容中,习题主要涉及的是气相反应或气-固相反应,溶液相反应很少。以铜-锌电池为例设计了化学热力学综合性习题,该设计加强了化学热力学与电化学之间的联系,并将化学热力学各知识点尽可能地联系起来。本综合性习题的设计对激发学生对物理化学的学习兴趣,加深学生对物理化学内容的理解,以及对促进物理化学教学改革都有一定的助益。