Spectroscopic Methods of Analysis

Code:

Q4080

Acronym:

Q4080

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Advanced Methods and Accreditation in Chemical Analysis

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:MA3Q	5	Official study plan since 2025/2026	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The curricular unit aims to provide the student with a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the modern methodologies of analysis using spectroscopic techniques. The different spectroscopic techniques will be compared critically and their potentialities will be evidenced through the discussion of their application in different applications and analytical problems, selected as case studies.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course unit, the student should have:

• acquired the common principles of operation of modern spectroscopy instruments.

• knowledge of the most important spectroscopic techniques, their characteristics and potentialities.

• capacity of utilization of instrumentation for analytical data acquisition.

• competence to select the most suitable spectroscopic techniques to solve concrete analytical problems.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to spectroscopical methods.

2. Atomic absorption spectroscopy.

2.1. Relation between the absorbance and the concentration of the absorbing atom.

2.2. Instrumentation;

2.3. Examples of application.

3. Atomic emission spectroscopy.

3.1. Relation between the intensity of radiation and the concentration of the atom emitting the radiation;

3.2. Instrumentation;

3.3. Examples of application.

4. Ultraviolet and Visible spectroscopy.

4.1. Beer-Lambert Law;

4.2. Instrumentation;

4.3. Examples of application.

5. Molecular fluorescence, phosphorescence and chemiluminescence.

5.1. Relation between the signal and the concentration of the molecule emitting the radiation.

5.2. Instrumentation;

5.3. Examples of application.

6. Infrared Spectroscopy.

6.1. Principles;

6.2. Instrumentation;

6.3. Examples of application.

Mandatory literature

Rouessac Francis; Chemical analysis. ISBN: 978-0-470-85903-2
Rubinson Kenneth A.; Contemporary instrumental analysis. ISBN: 978-0-13-790726-7
Skoog Douglas A.; Principles of instrumental analysis. ISBN: 0-03-002078-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course will provide theoretical and practical skills. Whilst dialectic between these two aspects is intended, the eminently theoretical part will be played in the classroom, in a theoretical-practical approach involving discussion, problem-solving and information research. The practice is essentially developed in the laboratory, allowing a familiarization with different spectroscopic instrumentation and its application to data acquisition, with the purpose of instrumental performance test.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Instrumental analysis
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Analytical chemistry > Spectrochemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	0,00
Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese	0,00
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Prova oral	0,00
Teste	0,00
Trabalho de campo	0,00
Trabalho escrito	0,00
Trabalho laboratorial	0,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	0,00
Estudo autónomo	0,00
Frequência das aulas	0,00
Trabalho laboratorial	0,00
Total:	0,00

Eligibility for exams

To obtain frequency, the student with ordinary registration can not exceed the limit number of absences to the practical classes, in accordance with the statutes of the FCUP. The student with special status is not covered by the previous restrictive measure.

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment will be distributed, taking into account the components of practical work with report (50%) and final written examination (50%).
Students who do not obtain a grade of 9.5 points or more in  the practical assessment will be excluded from the final written examination. Students whose classification in the final written exam is less than 7 values will be disapproved.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with FCUP regulations.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the classification can be achieved by conducting a final exam for this purpose and exclusively in this evaluation component.

Observations

Jury: Paulo Joaquim Ferreira de Almeida