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Examples of the ‘characteristic’ function applied to instrumental precision in chemical measurement

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Abstract

The ‘characteristic function’ \( \sigma = \sqrt {\alpha^{2} + \left( {\beta c} \right)^{2} } ,\) with two empirically determined parameters α and β, is proposed as a general purpose function to describe the variation of precision (in terms of standard deviation σ), or uncertainty, with analyte concentration c (here denoting any compositional quantity), for specific analytical methods applied to a defined type of test material. In this study it is applied to examples of analytical data collected under ‘instrumental’ conditions for estimating precision. The function fitted the data well, with no systematic lack of fit. The study therefore extends the range of applications of this function.

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References

  1. Thompson M, Mathieson K, Damant AP, Wood R (2008) Accred Qual Assur 13:223–230. doi:10.1007/s00769-008-0356-z

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  2. Thompson M, Wood R (2006) Accred Qual Assur 10:471–478. doi:10.1007/s00769-005-0040-5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Michael Thompson

  2. Department of Earth Science and Engineering, The Royal School of Mines, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2BP, UK

    Barry J. Coles

  3. Department of Mineralogy, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Barry J. Coles

Authors
  1. Michael Thompson
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  2. Barry J. Coles
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Correspondence to Michael Thompson.

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Thompson, M., Coles, B.J. Examples of the ‘characteristic’ function applied to instrumental precision in chemical measurement. Accred Qual Assur 14, 147–150 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-008-0476-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-008-0476-5

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