What is a calibration curve and how is one constructed?
1 Answer
It is a reference to known standards for accurate measurements.
Explanation:
Items with accurately known stable values are used as "standards" to create a relationship between the value and some property. This construction or mathematical model of it can then be used to measure other things. It may consist of a few measured "standard" values or a large number of them, depending on the final measurement accuracy desired.
Many chemical analytical techniques can be affected by environmental or sample conditions. Calibration curves can reduce or eliminate the effect of those perturbations on a measurement, making it much more accurate.
One physical example is a meter stick. IF actually calibrated at some point to the "official" meter, the subdivision can be thought of as the "distance-value" calibration curve. Wherever a measured length falls on the meter stick, that is the accepted length. In this way many comparative length measurements can be made in many places and of many materials.
