Chapter 8 Calibration Methods – Nomenclature and Classification

Reviewing the analytical literature, including academic textbooks, one can notice that in fact there is no precise and clear terminology dealing with the analytical calibration. Especially a great confusion exists in nomenclature related to the calibration methods: not only different names are used with reference to a given method, but they do not express the principles and the nature of different methods properly (e.g. "the set of standard method" or "the internal standard method"). The problem mentioned above is of great importance. A lack of good terminology can be a source of misunderstandings and, consequently, can be even a reason of carrying out an analytical treatment against the rules. Finally, the aspect of rather psychological nature is worth to be stressed, namely just an analyst is (or should be at least) especially sensitive to such terms as "order" and "purity" irrespectively of what analytical area is considered.