University of Nairobi Introduction to SciFinder Detection Limit Analysis Paper

Step 1: Gain access to SciFinder. If you do not already have a user account with SciFinder, use your favorite web browser to go to the chemistry database list on the UE library website. Click on the “New Users” link in the text next to the “SciFinder” listing and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the capabilities of SciFinder as a search tool. With some practice, you should find it very comprehensive and quite useful.

Step 3: Find an article that has an “extremely small” reported detection limit (think about the 6.7 aM discussion from class). Write a two-page summary of the article. Some things you may consider in your summary are:

• ? The “real-world” significance of the detection limit (e.g. is there a specific application that requires such a low limit)
• ? A description of the methods used and why they are the best available for this compound
• ? A discussion of the mass versus concentration limits of detection and the significance of thecomparison
• ? A discussion of any chemical amplification steps used and how they relate to the actualconcentration of the species being detected
• ? A comparison of this method to other similar methods for the same compound or class ofcompounds
• Step 4: Submit your paper to the Turitin Assignment on our Blackboard page by the start of next week’s lab.