Introduction to Environmental Data Acquisition - Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis - page 10

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QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. Give examples of practice that will cause data to be scientifically defective or legally
nondefensible.
2. Define and give examples of determinate errors and random errors.
3. Describe scopes of environmental sampling.
4. Why sampling and analysis are an integral part of data quality? Between sampling and
analysis, which one often generates more errors? Why?
5. Describe how errors in environmental data acquisition can be minimized and quantified?
6. How does environmental analysis differs from traditional analytical chemistry?
7. Describe the difference between ''classical'' and ''modern'' analysis.
8. A chemist is arguing that sampling is not as important as analysis. His concern is
whether there is a need for a sampling course in an environmental curriculum. His main
rationale is that most employers and governmental agencies already have their own
training courses and very specific and detailed procedures. Another consultant, on the
contrary, argues that sampling should be given more weight than analysis. His main
rationale is that a company always sends samples to commercial laboratories for
analyses, and you do not become an analytical chemist by taking one course. For each
of these two arguments, specify whether you agree or disagree and clearly state your
supporting argument why you agree or disagree.