Subject Code: PCIE-611
Title of the course: Analytical and Optical Instrumentation
CHAPTER -1
1. Discuss how analytical instruments differ from other types of instruments used in industrial
and scientific applications.
2. Discuss the factors that influence the design of an efficient sampling system.
3. Explain the concept of automatic sampling and how it ensures "faithful" or accurate sampling
in industrial processes.
4. Identify key international and national standards that govern the use of analytical instruments.
CHAPTER -2
1. Discuss the various types of radiation sources used in analytical instruments (e.g., UV, IR, X-
ray).
2. What are optical sources, and why are they important in spectrophotometry? Provide examples
of common optical sources used in UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy.
3. State Beer’s Lambert Law and explain its mathematical expression.
4. Discuss the applications and limitations of X-ray analyzers in material characterization.
5. Describe the working principle of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometry and its
application in structural analysis of organic compounds.
CHAPTER -3
1. Discuss the roles of the stationary phase and the mobile phase in the separation process of
chromatography.
2. Compare gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) in terms of their
operation, applications, and advantages.
3. Describe the types of detectors used in liquid chromatography.
4. Discuss the factors that influence the separation efficiency in both gas and liquid
chromatography, such as column length, particle size, temperature, and flow rate.
CHAPTER -4
1. Draw and label the key components of a SEM, including the electron gun, lenses, and
detectors.
2. Describe how a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) works, focusing on its electron
beam and interaction with the sample.
3. Compare the magnification and resolution capabilities of optical microscopy, SEM, and TEM.
4. Explain the limitations of TEM in terms of sample thickness and its complex preparation
process.
CHAPTER -5
1. Discuss the key parameters that gas analyzers typically measure, such as concentration,
pressure, and temperature.
2. Explain the working principle of a paramagnetic oxygen analyzer, focusing on the behavior of
oxygen in a magnetic field.
3. Describe the working principle of an infrared (IR) gas analyzer, particularly how it detects
gases based on their absorption of infrared radiation.
4. Explain how a thermal conductive gas analyzer operates, focusing on how it measures gas
concentration based on the thermal conductivity of different gases.
5. Describe the working principle of gas analyzers that operate based on gas density
measurement.
CHAPTER -6
1. Describe the components of an electrochemical cell used in potentiometric measurements,
including the reference electrode, working electrode, and electrolyte.
2. Explain the working principle of an ion-sensitive electrode (ISE), and how it measures the
concentration of specific ions in a solution.
3. Describe the principle behind solid-state sensors used in potentiometric measurements and
how they differ from traditional ISEs.
4. Explain how gas sensing electrodes work and the types of gases they can detect.
CHAPTER -7
1. Define error analysis and explain why it is crucial in the interpretation of analytical data.
2. Differentiate between systematic errors and random errors in measurements, providing
examples of each.
3. Compare and contrast the presentation of quantitative and qualitative data in an analytical
report.
4. Explain the role of statistical tools such as standard deviation, variance, and confidence
intervals in error analysis.
5. Explain the difference between absolute and relative error and how each can be presented in
graphical data analysis.
