Instrumentation Flashcards
Which formula correctly describes the relationship between absorbance and %T ?
A. A = 2 – log %T
B. A = log 1/T
C. A = –log T
D. All of these options
D
A solution that has a transmittance of 1.0 %T would have an absorbance of:
A. 1.0
B. 2.0
C. 1%
D. 99%
B
In absorption spectrophotometry:
A. Absorbance is directly proportional to transmittance
B. Percent transmittance is directly proportional to concentration
C. Percent transmittance is directly proportional to the light path length
D. Absorbance is directly proportional to concentration
D
Which wavelength would be absorbed strongly by a red-colored solution?
A. 450 nm
B. 585 nm
C. 600 nm
D. 650 nm
A
A green-colored solution would show highest transmittance at:
A. 475 nm
B. 525 nm
C. 585 nm
D. 620 nm
B
SITUATION: A technologist is performing an enzyme assay at 340 nm using a visible-range spectrophotometer. After setting the wavelength and adjusting the readout to zero %T with the light path blocked, a cuvette with deionized water
is inserted. With the light path fully open and the 100%T control at maximum, the instrument readout will not rise above 90%T. What is the most appropriate first course of action?
A. Replace the source lamp
B. Insert a wider cuvette into the light path
C. Measure the voltage across the lamp terminals
D. Replace the instrument fuse
A
Which type of monochromator produces the purest monochromatic light in the UV range?
A. A diffraction grating and a fixed exit slit
B. A sharp cutoff filter and a variable exit slit
C. Interference filters and a variable exit slit
D. A prism and a variable exit slit
D
Which monochromator specification is required in order to measure the true absorbance of a compound having a natural absorption bandwidth of 30 nm?
A. 50-nm bandpass
B. 25-nm bandpass
C. 15-nm bandpass
D. 5-nm bandpass
D
Which photodetector is most sensitive to low levels of light?
A. Barrier layer cell
B. Photodiode
C. Diode array
D. Photomultiplier tube
D
Which condition is a common cause of stray light?
A. Unstable source lamp voltage
B. Improper wavelength calibration
C. Dispersion from second-order spectra
D. Misaligned source lamp
C
Which type of filter is best for measuring stray light?
A. Wratten
B. Didymium
C. Sharp cutoff
D. Neutral density
C
Which of the following materials is best suited
for verifying the wavelength calibration of a spectrophotometer?
A. Neutral density filters
B. Potassium dichromate solutions traceable to the National Bureau of Standards reference
C. Wratten filters
D. Holmium oxide glass
D
Why do many optical systems in chemistry analyzers utilize a reference light path?
A. To increase the sensitivity of the measurement
B. To minimize error caused by source lamp fluctuation
C. To obviate the need for wavelength adjustment
D. To reduce stray light effects
B
Why do many optical systems in chemistry analyzers utilize a reference light path?
A. To increase the sensitivity of the measurement
B. To minimize error caused by source lamp fluctuation
C. To obviate the need for wavelength adjustment
D. To reduce stray light effects
B
Which component is required in a spectrophotometer in order to produce a spectral absorbance curve?
A. Multiple monochromators
B. A reference optical beam
C. Photodiode array
D. Laser light source
C
The half-band width of a monochromator is defined by:
A. The range of wavelengths passed at 50% maximum transmittance
B. One-half the lowest wavelength of optical purity
C. The wavelength of peak transmittance
D. One-half the wavelength of peak absorbance
A
The reagent blank corrects for absorbance caused by:
A. The color of reagents
B. Sample turbidity
C. Bilirubin and hemolysis
D. All of these options
A
A plasma sample is hemolyzed and turbid. What
is required to perform a sample blank in order
to correct the measurement for the intrinsic
absorbance of the sample when performing a
spectrophotometric assay?
A. Substitute deionized water for the sample
B. Dilute the sample 1:2 with a standard of
known concentration
C. Substitute saline for the reagent
D. Use a larger volume of the sample
C
Which instrument requires a highly regulated
DC power supply?
A. A spectrophotometer with a barrier layer cell
B. A colorimeter with multilayer interference
filters
C. A spectrophotometer with a photomultiplier
tube
D. A densitometer with a photodiode detector
C
Which statement regarding reflectometry is true?
A. The relation between reflectance density and
concentration is linear
B. Single-point calibration can be used to determine
concentration
C. 100% reflectance is set with an opaque film
called a white reference
D. The diode array is the photodetector of choice
C
Bichromatic measurement of absorbance can
correct for interfering substances if:
A. The contribution of the interferent to absorbance is the same at both wavelengths
B. Both wavelengths pass through the sample
simultaneously
C. The side band is a harmonic of the primary
wavelength
D. The chromogen has the same absorbance at both wavelengths
A
Which instrument requires a primary and
secondary monochromator?
A. Spectrophotometer
B. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer
C. Fluorometer
D. Nephelometer
C
Which of the following statements about
fluorometry is accurate?
A. Fluorometry is less sensitive than
spectrophotometry
B. Fluorometry is less specific than
spectrophotometry
C. Unsaturated cyclic molecules are often
fluorescent
D. Fluorescence is directly proportional to
temperature
C
Which of the following components is not needed
in a chemiluminescent immunoassay analyzer?
A. Source lamp
B. Monochromator
C. Photodetector
D. Wash station
A
Which substance is used to generate the light
signal in electrochemiluminescence?
A. Acridinium
B. Luminol
C. Dioxetane phosphate
D. Ruthenium
D
Light scattering when the wavelength is greater
than 10 times the particle diameter is described by:
A. Rayleigh’s law
B. The Beer–Lambert law
C. Mie’s law
D. The Rayleigh–Debye law
A
Which statement regarding nephelometry is true?
A. Nephelometry is less sensitive than absorption
spectrophotometry
B. Nephelometry follows Beer’s law
C. The optical design is identical to a turbidimeter
except that a HeNe laser light source is used
D. The detector response is directly proportional to
concentration
D
The purpose of the nebulizer in an atomic
absorption spectrophotometer that uses
a flame is to:
A. Convert ions to atoms
B. Cause ejection of an outer shell electron
C. Reduce evaporation of the sample
D. Burn off organic impurities
A
A flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer
dehydrates and atomizes a sample using:
A. A graphite capillary furnace
B. An electron gun
C. A thermoelectric semiconductor
D. A thermospray platform
A
When measuring lead in whole blood using atomic
absorption spectrophotometry, what reagent is
required to obtain the needed sensitivity and
precision?
A. Lanthanum
B. Lithium
C. Triton X-100
D. Chloride
C
Interference in atomic absorption
spectrophotometry caused by differences
in viscosity is called:
A. Absorption interference
B. Matrix effect
C. Ionization interference
D. Quenching
B