MMSC 407 CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
EXAMPREP STUDY GUIDE 2026 DETAILED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● wavelength. Answer: the distance between waves
●● amplitude. Answer: the height of a wave
●● frequency. Answer: how many waves pass in one second (related to
speed)
●● high energy waves. Answer: high frequency, very short and compact
wavelengths
-e.g. violet
●● low energy waves. Answer: low frequency, long wavelengths
-e.g. red
●● visible spectrum. Answer: the portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum from red (lowest energy) to violet (highest energy)
,●● transmitted light. Answer: light that is able to pass through a solution
●● absorbed light. Answer: light that enters but does not leave a solution
●● inverse (fill in the blank). Answer: light Transmittance (T) and
absorbance have a _____________________ relationship
-the more light that is absorbed, the less light there is left over to
transmit
●● beer's law. Answer: A=abc
-A= absorbance (calculated, no units)
-a= molar absorptivity: constant for a compound (L/mol*cm)
-b= light path through the solution: constant because same cuvette is
used (cm)
-c= concentration of substance: value that is responsible for changes in
absorbance because its the only non-constant (mol/L)
●● directly (fill in the blank). Answer: absorbance and concentration
have a _______________ proportional relationship
-the higher the absorbance in a sample, the higher the concentration of
absorbing substance was
●● spectrophotometer. Answer: -light source
-entrance slit: ensures no excess light is able to enter
,-monochromator: isolates the particular wavelengths you want to
measure
-exit slit
-sample contained (cuvette): determines the constant b (path of light
through solution) in beers law
-photodetector: converts light energy photons into electrical energy
-readout device: generates a voltage signal that measures how much
light was detected
●● glass filter (monochromator). Answer: colored glass that absorbs and
transmits particular wavelengths of light
-broad bandpass (50 nm)
-cheap
●● interference filter (monochromator). Answer: a set of mirrored
surfaces that bounce light back and forth to produce constructive
interference to produce desired bandpass
-5-10 nm bandpass (pretty narrow)
●● glass prism (monochromator). Answer: a curved spectrum is
produced and can be rotated to allow desired wavelength through the
entrance slit
, ●● diffraction grating (monochromator). Answer: parallel grooves that
produce a linear straight spectrum through bending of light
-best monochromator
-bandpass can be < 1 nm (VERY specific)
●● calibrator (standard). Answer: a solution that is used in laboratory
instrument to establish a relationship between the instrument's signal
readout and the concentration of an analyte
-has a single known value (known concentration of analyte) to see if the
instrument is measuring properly
-used to calibrate machine
●● reference range calculation. Answer: mean +/- 2 standard deviations
●● establishing reference range. Answer: -evaluate 120 patient samples
from a healthy population
-population must represent the geographic area that is being served
-evaluate the mean and standard deviation
●● reference range. Answer: a value that represents the mean + or - 2
standard deviations
-95% of readings should fall in this range
-represents the "normal" ranges for patients to fall in
EXAMPREP STUDY GUIDE 2026 DETAILED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● wavelength. Answer: the distance between waves
●● amplitude. Answer: the height of a wave
●● frequency. Answer: how many waves pass in one second (related to
speed)
●● high energy waves. Answer: high frequency, very short and compact
wavelengths
-e.g. violet
●● low energy waves. Answer: low frequency, long wavelengths
-e.g. red
●● visible spectrum. Answer: the portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum from red (lowest energy) to violet (highest energy)
,●● transmitted light. Answer: light that is able to pass through a solution
●● absorbed light. Answer: light that enters but does not leave a solution
●● inverse (fill in the blank). Answer: light Transmittance (T) and
absorbance have a _____________________ relationship
-the more light that is absorbed, the less light there is left over to
transmit
●● beer's law. Answer: A=abc
-A= absorbance (calculated, no units)
-a= molar absorptivity: constant for a compound (L/mol*cm)
-b= light path through the solution: constant because same cuvette is
used (cm)
-c= concentration of substance: value that is responsible for changes in
absorbance because its the only non-constant (mol/L)
●● directly (fill in the blank). Answer: absorbance and concentration
have a _______________ proportional relationship
-the higher the absorbance in a sample, the higher the concentration of
absorbing substance was
●● spectrophotometer. Answer: -light source
-entrance slit: ensures no excess light is able to enter
,-monochromator: isolates the particular wavelengths you want to
measure
-exit slit
-sample contained (cuvette): determines the constant b (path of light
through solution) in beers law
-photodetector: converts light energy photons into electrical energy
-readout device: generates a voltage signal that measures how much
light was detected
●● glass filter (monochromator). Answer: colored glass that absorbs and
transmits particular wavelengths of light
-broad bandpass (50 nm)
-cheap
●● interference filter (monochromator). Answer: a set of mirrored
surfaces that bounce light back and forth to produce constructive
interference to produce desired bandpass
-5-10 nm bandpass (pretty narrow)
●● glass prism (monochromator). Answer: a curved spectrum is
produced and can be rotated to allow desired wavelength through the
entrance slit
, ●● diffraction grating (monochromator). Answer: parallel grooves that
produce a linear straight spectrum through bending of light
-best monochromator
-bandpass can be < 1 nm (VERY specific)
●● calibrator (standard). Answer: a solution that is used in laboratory
instrument to establish a relationship between the instrument's signal
readout and the concentration of an analyte
-has a single known value (known concentration of analyte) to see if the
instrument is measuring properly
-used to calibrate machine
●● reference range calculation. Answer: mean +/- 2 standard deviations
●● establishing reference range. Answer: -evaluate 120 patient samples
from a healthy population
-population must represent the geographic area that is being served
-evaluate the mean and standard deviation
●● reference range. Answer: a value that represents the mean + or - 2
standard deviations
-95% of readings should fall in this range
-represents the "normal" ranges for patients to fall in
