Eichkurven

Eichkurven, meaning "calibration curves" in German, are graphical representations used in analytical chemistry and various scientific fields to determine the concentration of an unknown substance. They are generated by plotting the measured response of an analytical instrument (such as absorbance, fluorescence, or peak area in chromatography) against a series of known concentrations of the analyte. These known concentrations are prepared as standards, and their corresponding instrument responses are recorded.

The data points from the standards are then used to create a curve or a line of best fit. This relationship, often linear within a certain range, allows for the interpolation of the analyte concentration in an unknown sample. When an unknown sample is analyzed, its instrument response is measured, and this value is located on the y-axis of the calibration curve. By tracing horizontally to intersect the curve and then vertically down to the x-axis, the corresponding concentration of the analyte in the unknown sample can be determined. The accuracy of the calibration curve is crucial for obtaining reliable quantitative results. Factors like the quality of standards, instrument stability, and the appropriate selection of the calibration range all influence the curve's effectiveness.