Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Analytical Challenges
We live in the ever-accelerating world accustomed to getting instant answers from Google. In contrast to this, the Analytical Challenge series invites us to pause and think about some analytical problem using the old fashioned paper and pencil method. This column is not here to teach analytical chemistry but to offer glimpses of fundamental problems worth pondering over. Over the last decade the column has featured a rich variety of chemical problems often with touch of cultural relevance. Why does garlic turn blue when left in vinegar, why did Avogadro’s constant suddenly jump in its value during the cold war, and could Cleopatra really have dissolved her pearls to win her bet against Marc Antony? In addition, this column also features ‘serious’ problems with deep-rooted links to fundamental analytical chemistry. There is a variety of examples exploring the value of modern NMR techniques, problems exploring the various quantitation methods in analytical chemistry (standard additions, isotope dilution), or aspects of seemingly simple dilution of samples. We invite the readers not to be shy and spend some time pondering these problems or propose one from your own collection of interesting problems!
In cooperation with Column Editor Juris Meija we would like to invite you to participate in the Analytical Challenge, which is a series of puzzles to entertain and challenge our readers.
The special 'Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry' feature ‘Analytical Challenge’ has established itself as a truly unique quiz series, with a new scientific puzzle published on a quarterly basis.
-> Exciting News: the 100th Analytical Challenge was published in 2020: the Interlaboratory consensus building challenge
Prize for the lucky winner
Each "Analytical Challenge" provides you with the opportunity to win a prize (a Springer book of your choice up to a value of €100)... Please see below for details on how to participate!
The solution of the puzzles with the names of the lucky winners will be announced here and in one of the forthcoming issues of ABC.
Want to participate?
Check out the CURRENT Analytical Challenge and send us an email with the solution by July 1st, 2024, to abc@springer.com:
A passing spaceship NMR challenge
->Congratulations to the winner of the "Bridged bicyclic molecule NMR challenge": Mirsadra Molaei, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. !
Questions/Comments?
Please get in touch with us in case of questions or comments on this Analytical Challenge or the journal 'Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry' in general.
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2024
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2023
Bridged bicyclic molecule NMR challenge
Solution to bridged bicyclic molecule NMR challenge
Solution to best measurement challenge
Solution to the wing-giving challenge
Symmetrical molecule NMR challenge
Solution to the symmetrical molecule NMR challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2022
Maigret’s zinc phosphide challenge
Solution to Maigret’s zinc phosphide challenge
Solution to arsenic speciation challenge
Solution to the mutarotation challenge
Solution to the data averaging challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2021
Solution to isotope delta challenge
Bisphenol A measurement challenge
Solution to bisphenol A measurement challenge
Trifluoroacetic acid NMR challenge
Solution to trifluoroacetic acid NMR challenge
Solution to the “never odd or even” challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2020
Solution to gas weighing challenge
Solution to element crossword challenge
Interlaboratory consensus building challenge
Solution to interlaboratory consensus building challenge
Solution to Phosphine NMR challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2019
Titration endpoint challenge
Solution to titration endpoint challenge
Lead quantitation challenge
Solution to lead quantitation challenge
Wheat beer challenge
Solution to wheat beer challenge
Elemental pub quiz challenge
Solution to elemental pub quiz challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2018
Collision induced dissociation mass spectrometry challenge
Solution to collision induced dissociation mass spectrometry challenge
Best food reference material challenge
Solution to best food reference material challenge
Vitamin B3 mystery challenge
Solution to vitamin B3 mystery challenge
Fading lemonade challenge
Solution to fading lemonade challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2017
Redox titration challenge
Solution to redox titration challenge
Measurement uncertainty challenge
Solution to measurement uncertainty challenge
Pink tea challenge
Solution to pink tea challenge
Through the looking-glass challenge
Solution to through the looking-glass challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2016
Precision mixology challenge
Solution to precision mixology challenge
Mohr’s method challenge
Solution to Mohr’s method challenge
Phenylbutazone purity challenge
Solution to phenylbutazone purity challenge
Hollandaise challenge
Solution to Hollandaise challenge
Isotope amount ratio measurement challenge
Solution to isotope amount ratio measurement challenge
NMR hide-and-seek challenge
Solution to NMR hide-and-seek challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2015
Left-handed DNA challenge
Solution to the left-handed DNA challenge
Solubility product challenge
Solution to solubility product challenge
The highest melting point challenge
Solution to highest melting point challenge
Maillard and grilled steak challenge
Solution to Maillard and grilled steak challenge
Rubbery egg challenge
Solution to rubbery egg challenge
Doubling spectroscopy challenge
Solution to doubling spectroscopy challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2014
Blue garlic challenge
Solution to blue garlic challenge
The absinthe challenge
Solution to the absinthe challenge
Ostwald’s dilution law challenge
Solution to Ostwald’s dilution law challenge
Osmium density challenge
Solution to the osmium density challenge
Isotope dilution challenge
Solution to the isotope dilution challenge
Ariadne’s thread NMR challenge
Solution to the Ariadne’s thread NMR challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2013
The copper pots and jam challenge
Solution to the copper pots and jam challenge
Quality assurance challenge 11
Solution to quality assurance challenge 11
Certified Reference Material recipe challenge
Solution to Certified Reference Material recipe challenge
The pycnometer challenge
Solution to the pycnometer challenge
Papal chemistry challenge
Solution to papal chemistry challenge
Angels’ share challenge
Solution to Angels’ share challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2012
Plato’s elements challenge
Solution to Plato’s elements challenge
Bavarois challenge
Solution to the Bavarois challenge
Quality assurance challenge 10
Solution to quality assurance challenge 10
Standard addition challenge
Solution to standard addition challenge
Peptide sequencing challenge
Solution to peptide sequencing challenge
The Olympic Games challenge
Solution to the Olympic Games challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2011
The green beans challenge
Solution to green beans challenge
Nuclear Overhauser effect challenge
Solution to nuclear Overhauser effect challenge
Hofmeister effect challenge
Solution to Hofmeister effect challenge
Radioactive Jeopardy challenge
Solution to radioactive Jeopardy challenge
Living cell spectroscopy challenge
Solution to living cell spectroscopy challenge
Molality–molarity challenge
Solution to Molality–molarity challenge
A “little western flower” challenge
Solution to “little western flower” challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2010
Beryllium valence challenge
Solution to Beryllium valence challenge
Quality assurance challenge 9
Solution to Quality assurance challenge 9
Avogadro constant challenge
Solution to Avogadro constant challenge
Whipped egg-white challenge
Solution to Whipped egg-white challenge
The uncooked egg challenge
Solution to Uncooked egg challenge
Cleopatra’s cocktail challenge
Solution to Cleopatra’s cocktail challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2009
Spectroscopy challenge 14
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 14
Random error propagation challenge
Solution to random error propagation challenge
Quality assurance challenge 8
Solution to quality assurance challenge 8
Mendeleyev vodka challenge
Solution to Mendeleyev vodka challenge
Quality assurance challenge 7
Solution to quality assurance challenge 7
Precision weighing challenge
Solution to precision weighing challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2008
Spectroscopy challenge 13
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 13
Standard hydrogen electrode challenge
Solution to standard hydrogen electrode challenge
Spectroscopy blog challenge
Solution to spectroscopy blog challenge
Nascent hydrogen challenge
Solution to nascent hydrogen challenge
Isotopic abundance challenge
Solution to isotopic abundance challenge
Quality assurance challenge 6
Solution to quality assurance challenge 6
Birthday chromatography challenge
Solution to the birthday chromatography challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2007
Spectroscopy challenge 12
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 12
“Doctrine of Signatures” challenge
Solution to “Doctrine of Signatures” challenge
Half-titration challenge
Solution to half-titration challenge
Quality assurance challenge 5
Solution to quality assurance challenge 5
A chemical uncertainty principle challenge
Solution to the chemical uncertainty principle challenge
Neurochemical challenge
Solution to the neurochemical challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2006
Quality assurance challenge 4
Solution to quality assurance challenge 4
Spectroscopy challenge 11
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 11
A geometric chemistry challenge
Solution to geometric chemistry challenge
Goldberg variations challenge
Solution to Goldberg variations challenge
Quality assurance challenge 3
Solution to quality assurance challenge 3
DNA sequencing challenge
Solution to DNA sequencing challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2005
Spectroscopy challenge 10
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 10
Quality assurance challenge 2
Solution to quality assurance challenge 2
Mass spectrometry challenge
Solution to the mass spectrometry challenge
Quality assurance challenge 1
Solution to the quality assurance challenge 1
Spectroscopy challenge 9
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 9
Informatics and mass spectrometry challenge
Solution to informatics and mass spectrometry challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2004
Spectroscopy challenge 8
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 8
Isotope pattern geometry challenge
Solution to isotope pattern geometry challenge
Spectroscopy challenge 7
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 7
Spectroscopy challenge 6
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 6
Chemical logic challenge
Solution to chemical logic (challenge)
Microfabrication challenge
Solution to microfabrication challenge
ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES IN 2003
Spectroscopy challenge 5
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 5
Spectroscopy challenge 4
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 4
Spectroscopy challenge 3
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 3
Spectroscopy challenge 2
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 2
Spectroscopy challenge 1
Solution to spectroscopy challenge 1