Measurement, Statistics, and Computation

Analytical chemists are called upon to deliver precise information in a range of contexts, whether to measure and analyze samples from a river in which fish are dying, help determine why a chemical product is no longer being manufactured to its usual specification, or determine if a fire was the result of arson. In determining approaches to selecting, measuring, and analyzing samples, a working knowledge of statistics is crucial. This text introduces the application of statistical ideas in the context of analytical chemistry. It shows how to draw quantitative conclusions from experimental measurements, assess the value of results, and suggest additional work which may be necessary. Many exercises in this workbook are designed to be carried out with the aid of a computer, reflecting the reality of the field, in which quality-control measurements are increasingly computer automated.· Study Guide· Bibliography· Acknowledgements· Accuracy and Precision· Probability and the Distribution of Error· Samples, Estimation, and Hypothesis Testing· Comparison of Means and of Standard Deviations· The Elementary Statistics of Calibration· Correlation· Statistics in Quality Control· Accuracy and Precision in Handling Results