Botswana International University of Science and Technology

College of sciences
Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences
Course outline for the course Instrumental Analysis I (CHEM 302)
Target group: Third year students
Instructors: Joy Mokone (Dr.) and Melisew T. Alula (Dr.)
Instructor’s office: Block 108/016, B5/F39
Email: mokonej@biust.ac.bw, alulam@biust.ac.bw
Consultation Hours: By appointment
Course description

Introduction to the subject matter; analytical methods based on the interaction of

electromagnetic radiation with matter; atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy;
instrumentation for spectroscopy; ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy; infrared; fluorescence;
phosphorescence; chromatography; gas chromatography; high performance liquid
chromatography; electrophoresis.
Course rationale
The course is designed to make the students develop the theoretical competency in using
spectroscopic techniques for analytical purposes. The course familiarizes the students with the
theoretical background of the principles of spectroscopic and chromatography techniques which
are applied in various fields like, toxicology, environmental science, pharmaceuticals, quality
controlling, chemical industry, clinical chemistry, medicine, diagnosis, forensic etc.
Course objectives
The course is designed to make the students to get basic concepts in spectroscopy,
chromatography, and electroanalytical methods of analysis.
After completing this course students will be able to:
 describe electromagnetic radiation and its properties;
 explain about how the electromagnetic radiation can be applied for analysis of a given
analytical sample of interest;
 define terms such as spectroscopy, absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation;
 discuss the qualitative and quantitative applications of different spectroscopic techniques;

1
  describe the underlying principles of different spectroscopic methods; draw block
diagrams for illustration of spectrometric instrument components and describe the
working principles;
 describe the basic principle of separation by chromatographic methods for chemical
analysis
 can explain terms like elution, mobile phase, stationary phase, retention time etc.
 can explain the major differences between gas-liquid and liquid-liquid chromatography
Contents
1. Introduction to Spectroscopy
1.1 Electromagnetic Radiation and its interaction with matter
1.2 Atoms and atomic spectroscopy
1.3 Molecules and molecular spectroscopy
1.3 Absorption and Emission of Radiation
1.4 The electromagnetic spectrum
1.5 Absorption Laws
1.5.1 Lambert-Beer's Law
1.5.2 Deviation from Beer's Law and Errors associated with Beer's Law
1.6 Methods of calibration
1.6.1 Calibration with standards
1.6.2 Method of standard additions
1.6.3 Internal standard calibration
2. Optical systems used in spectroscopy
2.1 Components of optical instruments
2.1.1 Source of Radiation
2.1.2 Wave-length selectors
2.1.3 Sample containers
2.1.4 Detectors
2.1.5 Read out and signal amplification systems
2.2 Optical systems used in spectroscopy: Single beam versus double beam.
3. Molecular absorption spectroscopy
3.1 Ultraviolet and Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy

2
 3.1.1 Introduction
3.1.2 Basic Principles
3.1.3 Absorption characteristics of some chromopores
3.1.4 Instrumentation
3.1.5 Application
3.2. Infrared absorption spectroscopy
3.2.1 Introduction
3.2.2 Energy levels in vibrating and rotating molecules
3.2.3 Characteristic vibrational frequencies
3.2.4 Factors affecting group frequencies
3.2.5 Instrumentation
3.2.6 Interpretation of some spectra
3.3 Raman spectroscopy
4. Molecular fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy
4.1 Theory of molecular fluorescence
4.2 Fluorescence instrumentation
4.3 Applications
5. Atomic spectroscopy
5.1 Atomic absorption spectroscopy
5.1.1 Principles
5.1.2 Instrumentation
5.1.3 Atomization process
5.1.4 Interferences in atomic absorption spectroscopy
5.1.5 Analytical Applications
5.2 Atomic emission spectroscopy
5.2.1 Principles
5.2.2 Instrumentation
5.2.3 Atomization process
5.2.4 Interferences in atomic emission spectroscopy
5.2.5 Analytical Applications
6. Mass spectroscopy (MS)

3
 6.1 Basic Principle of MS.
6.2 MS spectrometers
6.3 Interpretation of MS spectra.

7. Introduction to chromatographic separation

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Types of chromatography
7.3 Paper chromatography
7.4 Thin layer chromatography
7.5 Column chromatography
7.6 Efficiency of separation
7.7 Application (Qualitative and quantitative information)
8. Gas Chromatography (GC)
8.1 Principle of GC
8.2 Instruments for GC
8.3 Applications

9. High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

9.1 Principle of HPLC
9.2 Instruments for HPLC
9.3 Types of liquid (liquid) Chromatograph
9.3.1 Liquid (partition) chromatography
9.3.2 Liquid – solid (Adsorption) chromatography
9.3.3 Ion-exchange chromatography
9.3.4 Molecular exclusion chromatography

10. Electrophoresis
10.1 Basic principles of electrophoresis
10.2 Types and application of electrophoresis
11. Supercritical fluid chromatography and extraction

Mode of delivery
Lecture, laboratory activities, reading assignments

4
Assessment
Tests (30 %), laboratory attendance and reports (20 %), and final examination (50 %)
NB: Students should attend all the classes to be eligible for final examination.

Textbooks

1. Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis, 7th Ed or Latest, Robinson and Frame

2. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry. Latest Ed, Skoog & West,

References:
1. D.A. Skoog, D.M. West and FJ. Holler. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 7 th Ed.,
Saunders College Publishing, New York, 1996.
2.D.A. Skoog, S. R. Crouch and FJ. Holler. Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 4 th Ed., Saunders
College Publishing, New York 1998.
3.J.W. Robinson, E. M. Skelly Frame, and G. M. Frame II. Undergraduate Instrumental
Analysis, 6th Ed., 2005.
4.G.D. Christian, Analytical Chemistry, 5th Ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1994.
5.D.C. Harris, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 4th Ed., W.H. Freeman and Company, New
York, 1995.
6.G.H. Jeffery, 1. Bassett, 1. Mandham and R.C. Denney, Vogel's Text Book of Quantitative
Chemical Analysis, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York 1991.