Exam (elaborations)
FIA2 Model Chemistry Research Investigation
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This assignment was awarded 20/20 marks in 2022 for QCE (Queensland) Chemistry, in year 11.
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The Application of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to Inform theUnderstanding of the Role of Magnesium in Type-2 Diabetes
Mellitus.
Rationale:
The claim has been made that the analysis of the distribution of elements in
living things, Earth, and the universe has informed a wide range of scientific
understandings. Analysis of element distribution is informed by data from
spectroscopy and other analytical techniques; these methods are derived from
trends of the configuration of atoms of the periodic table and their behaviour in
chemical reactions. According to Science Direct, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(AAS) has become one of the most frequently used tools in analytical chemistry;
it can also be applied to bioanalysis, where its primary application is to
determine amounts of metal ions in biological samples. (SciMed, 2022). As alkali
and transition metals are known to be imperative to the functioning of organisms
in roles such as metabolism and regulation of hormones (Gupta, 2018), the use
of AAS to analyse elemental distribution can inform the relationship between
varying quantities of these substances and the outcomes on physiological
processes.
One disease that is primarily characterised by the altered concentrations of trace
metals is a chronic disease, called Type-2-diabters Mellitus (T2DM); in this illness,
the alkali metal – magnesium, is primarily implicated in co-morbidities of the
condition (Hickman, 2021). During analysis of data using AAS, establishing
concordant patterns at difference scales can indicate a correlation between
altered concentrations of magnesium and other variables. Then, by using
empirical evidence of concurrent physiological outcomes, a causality can be
deduced to inform the role of magnesium in this illness. To investigate this
aspect of the claim, the final research question is proposed below.
How does the use of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy inform the understanding
of the role of magnesium in patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus?
Background:
Magnesium can function as an antioxidant to reduce the presence of free
radicles in the blood, which are known to be in excess in T2DM (Fatmah A
Matough, 2012). In this status, free radicles contribute to oxidative stress, which
is the oxidation of biomolecules with consequent loss of their biological
functions, and manifests in potential oxidative damage in cells and tissues. (Man
Liu, 2020). In one of these processes - oxidised cholesterol, low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol particles react with free radicles to turn cholesterol
molecules into plaques in artery walls (Moll, 2022).
Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) can detect elements in either liquid or
solid samples by applying specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from
a light source. As the arrangement of electrons in an atom is unique, electrons of
the outermost shell - participating in chemical reactions, will absorb photons of
light differently. In AAS, analytes are first atomized so that their characteristic
wavelengths are emitted and recorded (ThermoFisher, 2022). Then, resonant
wavelengths propagate through a cloud of atoms; during excitation, electrons
, move up energy levels that correspond to the absorption of specific
wavelengths. During the process of absorption, changes in these wavelengths of
light will be read as peaks of energy absorption, as displayed by a monitor. The
AAS process also requires a calibration curve, which will help determine the
concentration of the analyte, based on previous measurements of it in known
concentrations (SciMed, 2022). In application, AAS is most effective in the
detection of metals, such as magnesium. This because metals will yield distinct
peaks of energy absorption that correlate with specific wavelengths. This allows
for the selective detection that atomic absorption spectroscopy requires, and the
identification of selective trace metals in biological samples (SciMed, 2022).
Analysis and Interpretation:
Two different research investigations were selected; to ensure the validity of
data, all papers must have evaluated the implications of varying amounts of
magnesium in T2DM and had to have employed AAS as the primary method of
analysing element distribution.
The first paper selected was, ‘Determination of plasma and erythrocyte levels of
copper, magnesium and zinc by atomic absorption spectrometry in type-2
diabetes mellitus patients with metabolic syndrome.’ This study was conducted
by Omidian et al., to evaluate the relationship between having T2DM, and
varying trace concentrations of plasma and erythrocyte magnesium in blood
samples - yielded through AAS and comparing such with values for a standard
control group; P-values of <0.05 are statistically significant.
Figure 1: Comparison of the concentration of trace metals in samples of blood
between non-diabetic groups (control) and type-2 diabetic groups (T2DM) with
metabolic syndrome (MetS) (Amin Omidian, 2021).
The concentration of plasma Mg was lower by 3.35mg/L in the T2DM group,
compared to the control group. In Erythrocytes (red blood cells) concentrations
of magnesium were lower by 14.28 ug/g Hb; these results were not considered
statistically significant. There is statistical significance associated with having an
altered concentration of plasma magnesium in T2DM, compared to that of the
control group. According to PubMed, a healthy concentration of Magnesium in
blood plasma is from 18 mg/L to 24 mg/L (Jahnen-Dechent, 2012). However,
mean results yielded of magnesium concentrations in T2DM groups are skewed
towards the lower end of parameters. It is indicated that concentrations of trace
metals may be implicated in the development of diabetic complications, as such
discrepancies only characterised the T2DM groups – exhibiting lower
concentrations and co-morbidities associated with the disease.
The trends identified are useful to the research question; the sensitivity and high
accuracy of AAS as an analytical method can deduce concentrations of
magnesium at extremely small scales, to observe statistically significant
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