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Calibration is an essential part of analytical chemistry because it enables scientists to check equipment is functioning correctly and produces accurate results. With regard to inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, this analytical method is used to identify major compounds and trace elements in chemical samples by ionising them. Once ionised, ions are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratios, and the concentration of each element can be determined. Without calibrating ICP spectrometers, analysis results could be inaccurate or contaminated, leading to further problems such as unsafe laboratory equipment and unreproducible data. 

For ICP calibration to be successful, reference materials are r...

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a widely used analytical technique that offers powerful analysis in many fields, with environmental science, geology, and materials science being key. Calibration is crucial for XRF instruments because it ensures they can be used to take accurate measurements and produce reliable results based on a sample. This calibration is conducted with reference materials, which are highly characterized samples of a known composition used to evaluate processes and product performance.1

The question is often asked whether scientists can create their own reference materials, and the answer is more complex than some would like. Throughout this blog post, we w...

Reference materials are used widely across scientific fields to ensure the accuracy and reliability of analytical results. However, how can we be sure that the reference materials used are an accurate standard to measure results against? Because they themselves need validation. Validating reference materials is a critical part of analytical chemistry as it will ensure analytical results are accurate and can be measured reliably. In this blog post, we will look at methods for validating reference materials, with a focus on fused calibration beads and synthetic ion ore materials.

Validating Reference Materials

The validation process of reference materials involves ...