A Chemist prepares a solution containing an unknown concentration of a specific analyte

and used spectrophotometer to analyze it. He then created a calibration curve using several
standard solutions of known concentrations as shown in the chart below:
NO Conc. (ppm) Absorbance
1. 1.5 0.15
2. 2.0 0.30
3. 2.5 0.45
4. 3.0 0.60
5. 3.5 0.75
6. 4.0 0.90
7. 4.5 1.05
8. 5.0 1.20
The unknown was treated in the same way as the standards and gave an absorbance of 0.65.
Using this data, determine the concentration of the unknown sample and the correlation
coefficient between x and y

1 answer

To determine the concentration of the unknown sample based on its absorbance, we can first analyze the calibration curve data provided. This data follows a linear relationship, so we can use linear regression to find the equation of the line that fits the standard data.

The concentration (x) is plotted against the absorbance (y) in the following way:

| Conc. (ppm) | Absorbance | |--------------|------------| | 1.5 | 0.15 | | 2.0 | 0.30 | | 2.5 | 0.45 | | 3.0 | 0.60 | | 3.5 | 0.75 | | 4.0 | 0.90 | | 4.5 | 1.05 | | 5.0 | 1.20 |

Step 1: Find the linear regression equation

We can represent this linear relationship with the equation of a line:

\[ y = mx + b \]

Where \( m \) is the slope and \( b \) is the y-intercept.

Step 2: Calculate the slope (m) and intercept (b)

The slope \( m \) can be calculated using the formula:

\[ m = \frac{N(\sum xy) - (\sum x)(\sum y)}{N(\sum x^2) - (\sum x)^2} \]

The intercept \( b \) can be calculated as:

\[ b = \frac{\sum y - m(\sum x)}{N} \]

Where:

  • \( N \) is the number of points,
  • \( \sum xy \) is the sum of the product of x and y,
  • \( \sum x \) is the sum of x values,
  • \( \sum y \) is the sum of y values,
  • \( \sum x^2 \) is the sum of squares of x values.

Step 3: Compute the necessary sums

Let's calculate the necessary sums step by step:

  • \( \sum x = 1.5 + 2.0 + 2.5 + 3.0 + 3.5 + 4.0 + 4.5 + 5.0 = 22.0 \)
  • \( \sum y = 0.15 + 0.30 + 0.45 + 0.60 + 0.75 + 0.90 + 1.05 + 1.20 = 5.30 \)
  • \( \sum xy = (1.5)(0.15) + (2.0)(0.30) + (2.5)(0.45) + (3.0)(0.60) + (3.5)(0.75) + (4.0)(0.90) + (4.5)(1.05) + (5.0)(1.20) \)

Calculating \( \sum xy \):

\[ = 0.225 + 0.60 + 1.125 + 1.80 + 2.625 + 3.60 + 4.725 + 6.00 = 20.10 \]

  • \( \sum x^2 = (1.5^2) + (2.0^2) + (2.5^2) + (3.0^2) + (3.5^2) + (4.0^2) + (4.5^2) + (5.0^2) \)

Calculating \( \sum x^2 \):

\[ = 2.25 + 4.00 + 6.25 + 9.00 + 12.25 + 16.00 + 20.25 + 25.00 = 95.00 \]

  • Number of points \( N = 8 \)

Step 4: Plug into the formulas

Now, substituting into the slope formula:

\[ m = \frac{8(20.10) - (22.0)(5.30)}{8(95.00) - (22.0)^2} \] \[ = \frac{160.80 - 111.60}{760.00 - 484.00} = \frac{49.20}{276.00} \approx 0.178 \]

Now substituting \( m \) into the intercept formula:

\[ b = \frac{5.30 - (0.178)(22.0)}{8} \] \[ = \frac{5.30 - 3.916}{8} \approx \frac{1.384}{8} \approx 0.173 \]

Step 5: Equation of the calibration curve

Thus, the equation of the calibration curve is:

\[ y = 0.178x + 0.173 \]

Step 6: Determine the concentration of the unknown sample

Given the absorbance \( y = 0.65 \), we can solve for \( x \) (concentration):

\[ 0.65 = 0.178x + 0.173 \] \[ 0.65 - 0.173 = 0.178x \] \[ 0.477 = 0.178x \] \[ x = \frac{0.477}{0.178} \approx 2.68 \text{ ppm} \]

Step 7: Calculate the correlation coefficient (r)

The correlation coefficient \( r \) can be computed using the formula:

\[ r = \frac{N(\sum xy) - (\sum x)(\sum y)}{\sqrt{[N\sum x^2 - (\sum x)^2][N\sum y^2 - (\sum y)^2]}} \]

First, calculate \( \sum y^2 \):

\[ \sum y^2 = (0.15^2) + (0.30^2) + (0.45^2) + (0.60^2) + (0.75^2) + (0.90^2) + (1.05^2) + (1.20^2) = 0.0225 + 0.09 + 0.2025 + 0.36 + 0.5625 + 0.81 + 1.1025 + 1.44 = 4.675 \]

Now substitute into the correlation coefficient formula:

\[ r = \frac{8(20.10) - (22)(5.30)}{\sqrt{[8(95) - (22)^2][8(4.675) - (5.30)^2]}} \] \[ = \frac{160.80 - 116.60}{\sqrt{(760 - 484)(37.4 - 28.09)}} \] \[ = \frac{44.20}{\sqrt{276 \cdot 9.31}} \approx \frac{44.20}{\sqrt{2574.56}} \approx \frac{44.20}{50.74} \approx 0.87 \]

Conclusion

  • The concentration of the unknown sample is approximately 2.68 ppm.
  • The correlation coefficient \( r \) is approximately 0.87.

This indicates a strong positive linear relationship between concentration and absorbance.