5.1 - Defining Sample Volume
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Practice Questions
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What is sample volume?
💡 Hint: Consider why we specify volumes in experiments.
Why is concentration expressed as mass over volume?
💡 Hint: Reflect on how pollution is measured.
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Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
What is the primary goal of sampling in environmental analysis?
💡 Hint: Think about what decisions are made from sampling data.
True or False: The detection limit is the same as the sensitivity of an instrument.
💡 Hint: Recall the definitions of these two terms.
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Challenge Problems
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You are tasked with monitoring water quality in a lake with known low levels of phosphorus. Your instrument has a detection limit of 0.5 mg/L, and preliminary studies suggest phosphorus levels could be around 0.2 mg/L. Describe the steps you would take to determine the sample volume needed for reliable measurements.
💡 Hint: Consider the volume-to-concentration ratio needed to surpass the detection limit.
A water sample has been filtered to measure suspended solids. You find different masses in repeated measurements; what could explain this discrepancy?
💡 Hint: Think about sample collection consistency and instrument reliability.
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