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1:14 Laying the Foundation

ICP-OES References:

Induc3vely Coupled Plasmas in Analy3cal Atomic Spectrometry; Montaser, A., Golighty, D. W., Eds.; VCH Publishers: New York, 1992.

Thompson, M.; Walsh, J. N. A Handbook of Induc3vely Coupled Plasma Spectrometry; Blackie: London, U.K., 1983.

Developments in Atomic Plasma Spectrochemical Analysis; Barnes, R. M., Ed.; Heyden: London, U.K., 1981.

2:1 Planning the project

Overview

The first stage of a trace analysis is planning the project. This chapter discusses the process of planning, which involves defining the problem and assessing the technical requirements needed to solve the problem. Without careful planning, achieving reliable results becomes a game of chance.

Analytical projects fall into categories of non-routine, semi-routine, and routine:

• Non-routine - a project in which a validated method does not exist and little is known about the sample. • Semi-routine - a project in which something significant can be stated about the sample and the method of analysis. • Routine - a project in which the sample is chemically known and a validated method is available.