Clarifying Misconceptions about Mass and Concentration Sensitivity

This commentary discusses differences between the so-called “mass sensitivity” and “concentration sensitivity”. These terms are freely used in analytical chemistry literature to characterize operation of analytical techniques and methods. The type of sensitivity in an analytical method delimits the method’s applications (e.g., in analysis of volume-limited and concentrated, or large-volume but dilute samples). It is helpful to instruct students how to distinguish between mass-sensitive and concentration-sensitive methods. Introduction of mass and concentration sensitivity can be included in graduate courses related to instrumental analysis, and, if time is available, also in the upper-level undergraduate courses.