Four Types of Chemical Analysis

[Lepton]

Question: A nuclear power plant is possibly leaking contaminants into a lake near it. Determine what types of analysis are needed in this situation. (More than one can be used)

 

Four Types of Analysis: Characterization, Fundamental, Quantitative, Qualitative.

 

My Take

Quantitative, Qualitative, and Characterization analysis.

-Quantitative analysis for see how much of the contaminant is in the water.

-Qualitative to determine what substance the contaminant is.

-Characterization to determine the properties of the contaminant and what it can do to humans.

 

Fundamental analysis isn't needed, as we aren't trying to understand a theory behind a type of analysis.

 

Is this correct?

[studiot]

Gosh what a silly question to set.

 

So many variables (questions that could be asked) and such narrow categories.

 

Are any of these categories measured against a scale?

 

Characterisation:

Is this situation a red emergency? amber? or just a warning?

Just humans?

Is is getting better?

Is it a one off?

 

Fundamental:

Route? When? For how long? Could any more come this way? Any other sources?

[Lepton]

Well how about a rework on the question.

 

- A nuclear plant is showing hints of leaking a contaminant, so we can assume this is just a warning. The question is stating to find out which of the four analysis methods are needed to make sure if there is a contaminant being leaked or not and how they would be used.

 

Quantitative - Since quantitative is based on identifying products in compounds, we use this to see if the contaminant is a known substance or not.

 

Qualitative - Since qualitative is based on measuring amounts of substances in a compound, we use this method to determine just how much of the contaminant is in the water, assuming there is any leak at all in the first place.

 

Characterization - Characterization is based on developing new methods to analyze physical and chemical properties of substances. So in this case, if we assume that if the contaminant isn't an already known substance, we would use this method of analysis to create a way to analyze the substance so we can see what it is and what it does. If we already know what the substance is, we could use this to develop a better way of analyzing the substance.

 

Fundamental - Fundamental analysis involves improving understanding behind analytical methods and theories right? So in this case, would we use fundamental analysis to help form a better way of analyzing and understanding the substance so we could prepare better should this contaminant appear again? As you said in your reply, I will assume that we can use fundamental analysis to understand things about the contaminant such as how long it can last in nature and what sources it could come from.

[John Cuthber]

OK, I'm an analytical chemist and I'd like to know who decided that there are "Four Types of Chemical Analysis".

 

Also, you seem to have quantitative and qualitative muddled.

The hint is in the name. Quantitative analysis tells you the quantity of material present.

[Lepton]

Well…. I know there are many more types then the four I listed, but the whole point was to understand four basic ones and get a general idea of their meanings and how they would be applied in real life.

 

1.) Quantitative would be to find out how much of a substance is present, and would be applied in the example above as a way to see how much of the contaminant is in the water.

 

2.) Qualitative would be to identify substances, and would be applied in the example as a way to identify the contaminant.

 

3.) Characterization would be to identify chemical and physical properties, so it would be applied in the example above to see what the contaminant can do if it did spread and how it would affect various things such as organisms and the atmosphere.

 

4.) I still have a bit of trouble understanding fundamental analysis. As I think of it right now, it is a type of analysis used to further understand the theories behind analytical methods. ( I.E understanding how certain analysis techniques work, etc) Is that what it is, or does it have a larger meaning?

 

I do understand that routine analysis would be categorized under chemical analysis, not analytical chemistry, so lets assume the contaminant is a foreign material that we have never created analysis methods for.