ASTM E135-99
(Terminology)Standard Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials
Standard Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials
SCOPE
1.1 This is a compilation of terms commonly used in analytical chemistry for metals, ores, and related materials. Terms that are generally understood or defined adequately in other readily available sources are either not included or their sources are identified.
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional information included in a Discussion.
1.3 Definitions identical to those published by another standards organization or ASTM committee are identified with the name of the organization or the identifying document and ASTM committee.
1.4 Definitions specific to a particular field (such as emission spectroscopy ) are identified with an italicized introductory phrase.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 135 – 99
Standard Terminology Relating to
Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 135; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Terminology Definitions
1.1 This is a compilation of terms commonly used in
absorbance, n—in spectrometry, the logarithm to the base 10
analytical chemistry for metals, ores, and related materials.
of the reciprocal of the transmittance, T.
Terms that are generally understood or defined adequately in
A 5 log ~1/T!52log T (1)
10 10
other readily available sources are either not included or their
absorption (of electromagnetic radiation), n—a decrease in
sources are identified.
radiant energy when passing through matter, resulting in a
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional infor-
corresponding increase in the energy of the absorbing
mation included in a Discussion.
system.
1.3 Definitions identical to those published by another
absorption spectrometry, n—the branch of spectroscopy
standards organization or ASTM committee are identified with
pertaining to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by
the name of the organization or the identifying document and
atoms, ions, radicals, and molecules.
ASTM committee.
analytical curve—see calibration curve.
1.4 Definitions specific to a particular field (such as emis-
analyte, n—in methods of chemical analysis, the component
sion spectrometry) are identified with an italicized introductory
determined by a method.
phrase.
analytical gap, n—in optical emission spectrometry, the re-
gion between two electrodes in which the specimen is
2. Referenced Documents
excited and from which radiant energy is used for analysis.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
analytical line, n—the particular wavelength of an element
E 180 Practice for Determining the Precision of ASTM
used in determining the presence or concentration of that
Methods for Analysis and Testing of Industrial Chemicals
element.
E 876 Practice for Use of Statistics in the Evaluation of
anneal, vt—in fire assay, to heat and then gradually cool a
Spectrometric Data
metal to remove internal stresses and make the material less
E 1914 Practice for Use of Terms Relating to the Develop-
brittle.
ment and Evaluation of Methods for Chemical Analysis
arc, condensed—see triggered capacitor discharge.
2.2 ISO Standard:
arc, continuous dc, n—a self-maintaining dc discharge.
ISO Guide 30—Terms and Definitions Used in Connection
arc line—not recommended, see atom line.
with Reference Materials
arc, noncapacitive ac, n—in optical emission spectrometry,a
series of separate electrical discharges, individually self-
3. Significance and Use
initiating or initiated separately by another means, in which
3.1 Definitions given in Section 4 are intended for use in all
each current pulse has a polarity that is reversed from the
standards on analytical chemistry for metals, ores, and related
previous one.
materials. The definitions should be used uniformly and
arc, noncondensed, intermittent dc—see arc, noncapacitive,
consistently. The purpose of this terminology is to promote
intermittent dc.
clear understanding and interpretation of the standards in
atom line, n—a spectral line resulting from radiation emitted
which definitions are used.
during electron transition as an excited atom returns to a
lower energy level.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-1 on atomic absorption spectrometry, n—the branch of spectros-
Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials and is the direct
copy pertaining to the absorption of electromagnetic radia-
responsibility of Subcommittee E01.23 on Terminology.
tion by free atoms.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1999. Published February 2000. Originally
buffer, n—in spectrometric analysis, a substance that tends to
published as E 135 – 58. Last previous edition E 135 – 98.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05.
minimize the effects of one or more elements on the
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
emission of other elements.
Available from American Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd St., 13th Floor,
burn, n—in emission spectrometry,(1) that portion of a solid
New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 135
specimen from which atoms were volatilized; determined with confidence and that is specific to the
(2) the act of burning. analytical procedure used (see Practice E 876).
burn, vt—in emission spectrometry, to vaporize and excite a division, n—in sample preparation, processes which divide a
specimen with sufficient energy to generate spectral radia- sample into two or more subsamples of equal mass and
tion. composition.
calibrant, n—a reference material used for a calibration. doré bead, n—a gold and silver alloy bead which results from
calibrate, vt—(1) to establish the relationship between the cupellation.
response of an instrument and the concentration or mass of drift, n—in instrumental methods of quantitative analysis,a
the analyte; (2) to establish a table of corrections to improve gradual change in instrument response from start to comple-
the accuracy of equipment used to measure physical prop- tion of a set of determinations.
erties such as mass, volume, temperature, etc. electrode, n—in emission spectrometry, either of two terminals
calibration, n—the act, process, or result of establishing: (1) between which an electrical discharge occurs.
the relationship between the response of an instrument and electrode gap—not recommended, see analytical gap.
the concentration or mass of the substance determined; (2)a emission spectrometry, n—the branch of spectroscopy per-
table of corrections to improve the accuracy of equipment taining to the emission of electromagnetic radiation by
used to measure physical properties such as mass, volume, atoms, ions, radicals, and molecules.
temperature, etc. emulsion calibration curve, n—in photographic optical emis-
calibration curve, n—the graphical or mathematical represen- sion spectrometry, the plot of the degree of blackening of the
tation of the relationship between the response of an instru- developed photographic emulsion as a function of the
ment and the concentration or mass of the analyte. intensity of the spectral line to which it has been exposed.
certified reference material (CRM), n—a reference material, excitation potential (X-ray), n—the potential required to
the composition or properties of which are certified by a produce characteristic radiation from an element.
recognized standardizing agency or group. exposure, n—the irradiance of a receiver integrated over the
exposure time.
DISCUSSION—A standard reference material, SRM, is a certified
exposure time, n—the time during which a receiver is irradi-
reference material issued by the National Institute of Standards and
ated.
Technology.
fatigue, n—the decrease in response of a photoelectric radiant
characteristic emulsion curve—see emulsion calibration
energy receiver caused by the accumulated exposure of the
curve.
receiver to radiant energy.
characteristic radiation, n—of X rays, a unique set of X rays
filter, n—a substance that attenuates the radiant power reach-
emitted by an element.
ing the detector in a definite manner with respect to spectral
combine, v—in sampling, to join together two or more
distribution.
increments without prior division or comminution.
filter, neutral, n—a filter that attenuates the radiant power
comminution, n—in sample preparation, processes which
reaching the detector by the same factor at all wavelengths
improve the microscale homogeneity of a sample by reduc-
within a prescribed wavelength region.
ing the particle size.
filter, nonselective—not recommended, see filter, neutral.
concentration, (c), n—the quantity of a substance contained in
goniometer, n—in X-ray spectrometry, a device used to adjust
a unit quantity of sample.
the angular relationships among a sample, crystal, and
concentration index, n—the concentration of an element at
detector in an X-ray spectrometer.
which the intensities of the analytical and internal standard
grating, concave, n—a diffraction grating on a concave mirror
lines are equal.
surface.
concentration range, n—in an analytical method, the concen-
grating, diffraction, n—a series of a large number of narrow,
trations within which a method has been tested and found
close, equally spaced, diffracting slits or grooves capable of
suitable for use.
dispersing light into its spectrum.
confidence interval, n—the range of values that may be
grating, plane, n—a transmission or reflecting grating whose
expected to encompass the true value, generally stated at
surface is flat.
some probability, the confidence level.
grating, reflection, n—a diffraction grating from which the
confidence level, n—the probability that the true value lies
incident light is reflected to form a spectrum.
within a stated range (the confidence interval).
grating, transmission, n—a transparent diffraction grating
counter electrode, n—in optical emission spectrometry, the
through which light is transmitted.
electrode in an analytical pair that does not contain the
homologous lines, n—in optical emission spectrometry, spec-
specimen being analyzed.
tral lines that exhibit minimal change in their intensity ratios
cupel, vt—to refine precious metals in a cupel by exposure to
with variations in excitation conditions.
high temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere.
increment, n—in sampling, a portion of material removed
cupel, n—a small, shallow, porous cup, used in assaying to
from a lot by a single operation.
separate precious metals from lead and other base metals.
inquartation, vt—the addition of silver to an assay sample to
densitometer—not recommended, see microphotometer.
facilitate parting.
detection limit—a stated limiting value that designates the
lowest concentration or mass that can be estimated or
E 135
intensity ratio (relative intensity ratio), n—the ratio of two length regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
(relative) intensities. parting, vt—separating silver from gold by selectively dissolv-
intermittency effect, n—in optical emission spectrometry, the ing the silver in acid.
departure from the reciprocity law that may occur when the polychromator, n—a device for simultaneously isolating sev-
exposure of a photographic emulsion is made in a series of eral rays of monochromatic radiation from a beam of
discrete increments, rather than in a continuous exposure of polychromatic radiation.
the same total energy. preburn period, n—in optical emission spectrometry, the time
internal standard, n—in spectrometry, a material present in interval after the initiation of a discharge during which the
specimens or added to test samples that serves as an intensity emitted radiation energy is not recorded for analytical
reference for spectral measurements. purposes.
internal standard line, n—a spectral line of an internal precision—of methods of chemical analysis, a characteristic
standard, with which the radiant energy of an analytical line manifested by agreement among individual results at a given
is compared. analyte content. E 1914–98
ion line, n—a spectral line resulting from radiation emitted preform, adj—a descriptive word applied to a commercially
during electron transition as an ionized atom decays to a produced spectroscopic electrode which is purified after
lower, but still ionized, energy level. cutting or machining.
irradiance, H,(of a receiver), n—the radiant power per unit premix burner, n—in flame atomic absorption and emission
area incident on a receiver. See exposure. spectrometry, a burner in which the fuel gas is mixed with
K radiation, n—characteristic X rays produced by an atom or the oxidizing gas before reaching the combustion zone.
ion when a vacancy in the K shell is filled by one of the outer primary X rays, n—in spectrometry, the emergent beam from
electrons. the X-ray source.
K-series, n—the set of X-ray wavelengths making up K profile, vt—in optical emission spectrometry, to scan and set
radiation. the deflection of the grating, or actual or apparent position of
L radiation, n—characteristic X rays produced by an atom or the entrance slit, or actual or apparent location of the exit
ion when a vacancy in the L shell is filled by one of the outer slits, to produce optimum measurement of intensity.
electrons. proof, n—in fire assay, a synthetic verifier having a precious
L-series, n—the set of X-ray wavelengths making up L metal content similar to that expected in the test sample.
radiation. proof correction, n—in fire assay, the adjustment to the final
linear dispersion, n—the derivative dx/dl where x is the assay obtained by analyzing the proof concurrently with the
distance along the spectrum and l is the wavelength. test sample.
line pair, n—an analytical line and the internal standard line qualitative analysis, n—the identification of some or all of the
with which it is compared. constituents of a sample.
lot, n—in sampling, a collection of material regarded as a unit. radiant energy, n—energy transmitted as electromagnetic
matrix, n—in methods of chemical analysis, all components of radiation.
a material except the analyte. radiant intensity, J, n—the radiant power emitted per unit
microphotometer, n—an instrument for measuring the relative solid angle in a specified direction.
transmittance of small areas on a photographic emulsion radiant power, P, n—the rate at which energy is transported in
such as spectral lines and X-ray diffraction patterns. a beam of radiant energy, preferably expressed in ergs per
monochromator, n—a device for isolating monochromatic second or watts.
radiation from a beam of polychromatic radiation. reading, n—a numerical value obtained from a digital display
nebulizer, n—a device for converting a sample solution into a or indicated on a scale or dial of an apparatus or instrument.
gas-liquid aerosol for atomic absorption, emission, and reciprocal linear dispersion, n—the derivative dl/dx where l
fluorescence analysis. This may be combined with a burner is the wavelength and x is the distance along the spectrum.
to form a nebulizer burner. reciprocity law, n—the statement that in a photochemical
neutral filter—see filter, neutral. reaction a constant effect is produced if the product of time
noncapacitive, intermittent dc arc, n—a series of electrical and radiant power is a cons
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