Instrumental Chemical Analysis

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Instrumental Chemical Analysis is the use of measuring instruments to identify chemicals.

About Instrumental Chemical Analysis

Flame Tests, Gas Tests, aqueous ion tests testing for lipids, glucose, starch and proteins all rely on humans observing a reaction which can be flawed because humans make mistakes.

Instrumental Chemical Analysis does not rely on humans to make observations. Instead the instruments are used to give more accurate and precise observations. They are also often much quicker than a human could do it.

Such instrumental chemical analysis is performed in airports when testing for drugs or explosives, in hospital when testing for diseases.

Flame Emission Spectroscopy is an example of instrumental chemical analysis.