CH111- Lab 4

Main idea of the lab- use gas chromatography to explore the composition of several air samples.
The instrument is a "chromatograph" and the plot is a "chromatogram". There is no such word as "chromatographer".
Either by size differences or by differences in affinity for the packing material in the column, mixtures can be separated. The size of the peaks on the graphical output gives their relative concentrations. A known sample's "retention time" (how long it takes for the sample to come out of the chromatograph) can give us the potential identity of components.

We are NOT doing the least-squares analysis. There are two ways you should evaluate the data you obtain:
Quantitative: Compare experimental areas to actual for standard from stockroom, after matching retention times to the sample spectrum. Use whatever factor you come up with to relate the two in an attempt to relate areas of breath and lab air to known values. Continue to use these factors to determine %s for burned and unburned gas.
Qualitative: Evaluate trends between lab air and breath, and between burned and unburned gas.

Among others, topics to be sure you cover in your report: chromatography in general, gas chromatography in particular, common gases

Read Skoog Ch. 29

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