Analytical Chemistry Lab Skills Digital Badge

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The Analytical Chemistry Lab Skills badge is a competency badge offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This culminating badge showcases content and skills in pipette calibration, verifying a calibration model, standardizing a base by titration, and spectroscopically determining dye concentration. Competencies are demonstrated through academic coursework in an analytical chemistry laboratory setting.

Earning Criteria

Participants earning this badge have demonstrated a breadth of analytical chemistry lab skills through their completion of the following set of four badges in an analytical chemistry laboratory setting: Pipette Calibration, Verifying a Calibration Model, Standardizing a Base by Titration, and Spectroscopically Determining Dye Concentration.

Competencies Demonstrated

1. Choose the appropriate tip for the micropipette.
2. Demonstrate proper technique using a micropipette.
3. Calculate the sample standard deviation of the ten trials for each volume tested.
4. Solve for the coefficient of variation (CV%) and inaccuracy (A%).
5. Evaluate if the coefficient of variation is within the manufacturer’s specifications.
6. Evaluate if the accuracy is within the manufacturer’s specifications.
7. Operate an analytical balance to weigh a standard accurately.
8. Calculate the amount of stock solution needed to prepare calibration standards.
9. Use volumetric glassware to achieve the required final volume of solution.
10. Create a linear calibration model in a spreadsheet program
11. Evaluate the coefficient of determination (R2 value) and ensure it has a value of 0.99 or greater
12. Construct a residual plot from values derived using the calibration model.
13. Judge if the error in the signal of the calibrators is randomly distributed.
14. Analyze an external control and use the calibration model to determine its concentration.
15. Calculate the percent error and ensure it is less than 10%.
16. Use an analytical balance to accurately weigh a primary standard.
17. Perform a titration for at least three trials, or until a precision of 1% relative standard deviation is achieved.
18. Calculate the concentration of base.
19. Solve for the sample standard deviation, average, and percent relative standard deviation.
20. Report final values to the correct number of significant figures.
21. Calculate the percent error for the average concentration. This percent error must be less than or equal to 10%. If this benchmark is not met, the student will have another opportunity to collect more data if they choose.
22. Compare the standard deviation to the uncertainty of the concentration.
23. Evaluate in a written statement if the results are both accurate and precise.
24. Use volumetric glassware and a micropipette to make calibration standards of two dyes.
25. Operate a spectrometer to measure the absorbance of each standard.
26. Calculate the molar absorptivity for each dye at the chosen wavelengths.
27. Measure the absorbance of the control at the five chosen wavelengths.
28. Employ Excel’s Solver tool to approximate the concentration of each dye.
29. Estimate the concentration of a control. An accuracy of at least 10% is required.
30. Measure the absorbance of the commercial beverage at the five chosen wavelengths.
31. Create a mock beverage and spectroscopically compare the mock beverage to the commercial beverage.