29/4/2021 Chem301 Tutorial: Nonlinear Calibration Curves

Tutorial: Calibration Curves

Using Nonlinear Calibration Curves

There are times when a linear calibration curve does not give a good fit of the calibration
data. It is common in such cases to use a nonlinear function for the calibration curve. A
second- or higher-order polynomial is often used in these situations. See also the tutorial
"Polynomial regression in MS Excel."

Example

You wish to analyze the lead concentration in tap water using graphite furnace AAS. The
following data was collected. Report the concentration of lead in the tap water in the form of
a confidence interval.

lead conc, ppb signal, A-s

blank 0.006
10.0 0.077
20.0 0.138
30.0 0.199
40.0 0.253
50.0 0.309
60.0 0.356
tap water sample 0.278

Answer: 44.3 +/- 1.0 ppb (95% CI)

It is perhaps worth noting that the calibration data in the above example are "real" - actually
collected in an AA experiment - and are not "made up" for the purposes of illustration.
Thus, the procedure described is a practical, realistic way to account for apparent
nonlinearity in calibration data. Atomic absorption calibration curves are particularly
notorious in that regard.

https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~cstevens/301/Calibration6.html 1/1