Biological and Chemical Instrumentation

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the principles and instrumentation of spectrophotometer and colorimetry.

2. Know the operation and care of flame photometer and Raman spectrometers.

3. Know the operation and care of Atomic absorption spectrophotometers (AAS).

4. Know the operation and care of the X-ray spectroscope.

5. Know the operation and care of electrolytic conductivity bridge; coulometer titration; PH meter; autotitrator; polarograph.

6. Know the operation and care of radioactive detectors and counters.

7. Understand the operation and care of gas chromatographic equipment, fluorimeter, polarimeter and refractometer.

8. Know the concept of hydrogen ion concentration.

9. Know the various types of electrodes used in measuring ions like fluoride, nitrate, etc.

10. Know use of microscopes.

11. Know the principles of autoradiography.

12. Know the use and maintenance of photomicrographic equipment.

13. Know the use and maintenance of colony counter.

14. Know the use and maintenance of autoclave, centrifuge and incubator.

15. Understand the principle of automation and its significance in chemical analysis.

1.1 State the wave length within the electromagnetic spectrum.

1.2 Distinguish between wavelength of light within the visible region and invisible region.

1.3 Explain the similarities in the working principle of the colorimeter and spectrophotometer.

1.4 Identify the various parts of a colorimeter.

1.5 Explain the functions of the parts in 1.4 above.

1.6 State basic similarities and differences between a colorimeter and spectrophotometer.

1.7 Explain the limitations of colorimeter in microbiological studies.

1.8 Explain the term spectrophotometry.

1.9 List the various sources of light for spectrophotometric determination.

1.10 Describe diffraction grating

1.11 Explain the functions of diffraction grating in spectrophotometry.

1.12 Explain the term interference filter.

1.13 State the function of optical filter in spectrophotometry.

1.14 State the basic laws of spectrophotometry viz: Bonger Lambert’s law, Beer’s law.

1.15 Explain the working principles of the spectrophotometer.

1.16 List the functions of the parts in the optical system of a spectrophotometer.

1.17 List the different types of detections used in spectrophotometry.

1.18 List the functions of parts in the optical system of a spectrophotometer.

1.19 List the different types of detection used in spectrophotometry.

2.1 Explain the principle of operation of the flame photometer.

2.2 Identify the various parts of a photometer.

2.3 State the functions of the various parts of atomizer, e.g. carbon rod.

2.4 State the similarities and differences between the spectrophotometer and flame photometer.

2.5 List the errors inherent in practical flame photometry and how they can be corrected particularly as applied to biology.

2.6 Explain how to correct the errors in 2.5 above.

2.7 Describe and carry out typical maintenance routines for the flame photometer e.g. clearing deposits from the atomizer.

2.8 Identify parts of the Raman Spectrometers.

2.9 Explain the functions of the parts in 2.9 above.

3.1 Draw a schematic labelled diagram of the AAS.

3.2 Identify the parts of an AAS e.g. extension sources.

3.3 Describe the working principle of each of the component parts of the AAS (especially the hollow cathode lamp).

3.4 Outline the steps for operating the AAS.

4.1 Identify the parts of the X-ray spectroscope.

4.2 Describe the parts listed in 4.1 above.

4.3 Draw a block diagram of an X-ray spectroscope.

4.4 Describe the operation and working principles of the units such as collimation, filters, analyzing crystals and detectors.

4.5 Draw non-dispersive X-ray absorption meter.

4.6 List the parts of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

4.7 Identify and describe parts of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

5.1 List the component parts of:

(i) Electrolytic conductivity bridge

(ii) Coulometric titration

(iii) Autotitration

(iv) PH meter

(v) Polarograph.

5.2 Identify and describe the various parts of the instruments in 5.1 above.

5.3 Explain the principle of operation of the instruments in 5.1 above.

6.1 List the various radioactive detectors and counters with photographic envision, ionization chambers and proportional counters, scintillation counters, semi-conductor detectors, Geiger-Muller counter.

6.2 Explain the operation of each detector and counter in 6.1 above.

7.1 Explain gas chromatography

7.2 Identify the parts of:

(i) Gas chromatograph

(ii) Fluorimeter

(iii) Polarimeter

(iv) Refractometer

7.3 Explain the working principles of each instrument in 7.1 above.

8.1 Explain the term pH

8.2 Explain why the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.

8.3 State Bronsted-Lowry theory of acid and base.

8.4 Calculate the pH of an acid and a base applying the theory in 8.3 above.

8.5 Explain the functions of buffer with example.

8.6 Enumerate the main problems involved in pH measurement.

8.7 Explain how the problems in 8.10 above are overcome.

8.8 Describe the potentiometric method of determination of pH.

9.1 Identify ion - selective electrodes

9.2 State the uses of ion -selective electrodes

9.3 Explain the basic principles of operations of an ion-selective electrode.

9.4 Explain the relationship between activity and concentration of an ion.

9.5 List the various types of gas measuring electrodes.

9.6 Identify an oxygen electrode.

9.7 Identify the various uses of an oxygen electrode.

9.8 List and describe electrodes for pH measurement e.g. glass, combination

9.9 Describe the routine maintenance of electrodes e.g. in store in distilled water, use correct concentration of reactivator.

10.1 Define microscopy

10.2 List various techniques of microscopy e.g. bright field, dark field etc.

10.3 Explain the techniques in 10.2 above.

10.4 Identify various types of microscopes.

10.5 Identify the parts of the microscopes in 10.4 above.

10.6 Explain the principles of operation of the microscopes in 10.4 above (elementary treatment only).

11.1 Explain autoradiography

11.2 Identify the components used in autoradiography

11.3 Describe the applications of autoradiography

11.4 Demonstrate the techniques of autoradiography.

12.1 List the applications of photomicrography equipment.

12.2 Explain the working principles of photomicrography equipment.

12.3 Describe the working parts of photomicrography equipment.

13.1 Identify types of bacterial colony counters.

13.2 Identify the parts of the counter in 13.1 above.

13.3 Explain the function of each part in 13.2 above.

13.4 Describe the principle of operation of the colony counter.

14.1 State the functions of:

(a) Autoclave

(b) Centrifuge

(c) Incubator.

14.2 Identify the parts of the instruments in 14.1 above.

14.3 Explain the functions of the parts in 14.2 above.

15.1 Know the importance of automation.

15.2 Explain the following terms as they relate to automation:

(i) Precision

(ii) Reliability

(iii) Speed

(iv) Accuracy

15.3 Know the tasks involved in automation e.g. dispensing of samples and reagent in precise, predetermined volume

(i) Mixing of samples with reagent

(ii) Incubation

(iii) Recording of absorbance

(iv) Calculation and determine results

(v) Printing the results.

15.4 Differentiate between semi automated and fully automated analysers e.g. batch analyzer, semi automated, random access.

15.5 Know the terminologies used in automation.