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ERIC Number: EJ832463
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Mar
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Analyzing Lead Content in Ancient Bronze Coins by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: An Archaeometry Laboratory with Nonscience Majors
Donais, Mary Kate; Whissel, Greg; Dumas, Ashley; Golden, Kathleen
Journal of Chemical Education, v86 n3 p343-346 Mar 2009
A unique, interdisciplinary collaboration between chemistry and classics has led to the development of an experiment for nonscience majors. This instrumental analysis experiment was designed for use in an archaeology course to quantify the amount of lead in ancient bronze coins. The coins were corroded beyond visual identification, so provenance could be determined only through chemical analysis. Students digested coin subsamples in acid, prepared and diluted the resulting solutions, then utilized flame atomic absorption spectroscopy for the measurements. External calibration with acid-matched lead standards was used. A certified reference material was analyzed with the coins for method validation. Results were compared to published data to obtain a list of possible coin identities. (Contains 3 tables, 1 list, and 1 figure.)
Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A