In this issue:

News from the Lab  Articles Online  Analytical Quick Tip  IV Line Humor  Quick-guide to Quartzware Cleaning

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Online Certificates
We've recently begun adding Certificates of Analysis for all stock products to our website. Certificates are available in PDF format. Visit our Certificate Search to find any certificate by catalog number or item name.

Index of Catalog Numbers
For your convenience, we've created an Index of Catalog Numbers to be used with our new catalog. This index makes finding familiar products even easier.  Download your copy today!

Know the chemical stability of your standard. Chemical stability can be altered by changes in starting materials and preparation conditions. It is therefore advisable to perform stability studies on all standard solutions to avoid time-consuming and costly delays or mistakes. It is equally important to strictly adhere to preparation methodology, including order of addition for multi-component standard solutions.

The use of 1:1 nitric acid or 1:1 nitric/ hydrochloric acid is commonly use for removing inorganic impurities that may be left on the quartz ware from prior use. In some cases the use of dilute HF is necessary to strip the surface of silica and impurities. The use of HF is only used in extreme situations where other reagents have proven ineffective.

When quartz has been exposed to organic impurities, it may be cleaned by immersion into a freshly prepared solution of 1:1 sulfuric and 30% hydrogen peroxide. The solution is very hot and exposure to the skin will cause severe burns, so extreme caution is necessary. Only a very experienced analyst should prepare and use this solution. Allow the quartz to sit overnight in the solution under a hood.

Another way to rid the quartz of organics that are not organometallic in nature is to heat it in a muffle furnace at 550 °C overnight.

Nitric acid will attack organics when concentrated and heated under pressure, but it will not convert them to CO₂ and water.

Articles Online  more articles »

Sample Preparation Guide: Beryllium  · NEW ·
This, the third installment of our Sample Preparation Guide, features detailed preparation tips for samples containing beryllium.

Quartz Powder Preparation  · NEW ·
Dr. Gaines provides a tried-and-true preparation method for dissolving quartz powder.

ICP Operations Guide  · COMPLETE ·
A clear 16-part online guide intended for anyone preparing samples and standards for measurement using ICP. Topics cover many day-to-day tasks required by all operators.

Reliable Measurements: A Guidebook for Trace Analysts  · COMPLETE ·
An essential 17-part online guide for chemical analysts. Topics cover all phases of sample collection, preparation, measurement, and data analysis.

IV Line Humor  more humor »

Q: Why do chemists enjoy working with ammonia?

A: Because it's pretty basic stuff.