How is statistics used in Analytical chemistry?

Answer 1

In Analytical chemistry and especially the analysis of elements the main purpose is to identify even very, very small traces of certain substances. So, now, if you want to check i.e. a tree or its leafs... concidering environmental pollution or whatever... you choose your zone, where you take the samples, the amount of every sample (equal everywhere would be best - recommended), etc. At the end, you got a bunch of numbers after having evaluated the i.e. leafs... but, is your result representing the reality... what's about your method for the measurement, any errors? Statistics in Analytical Chemistry helps to represent the results. It gives a possibility to indicate how precise this measurements are (with a range of errors). All this together allows a statement about the real situation... even if you only took a few hundred samples...