CONSTRUCTION OF EFFECTIVE GRAPHS

Prepared properly, graphs are a very effective means of presenting data in reports. When
preparing graphs, some things must be kept in mind - the graph should be able to stand alone
which means all pertinent information should be on the graph. There must be a title, the axes
must be labeled and units must be included. A legend is included only if more than one data set
is being presented. As a matter of convention, the independent data is plotted on the x-axis and
the dependent on the y-axis. When plotting data from similar tests, try to keep the scale on the
axis the same for each graph to allow for better visual comparison. For example, the following
two sets of graphs show the difference.
Plotted using auto scale:

Rhodamine WT 10-5 M
Absorbance (au)

3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000
0

200

400

600

800

1000

800

1000

Wavelength (nm)

Methyl Orange 10-5 M

Absorbance (au)

0.600
0.500
0.400
0.300
0.200
0.100
0.000
-0.100 0

200

400
600
Wavelength (nm)

Absorbance (au)

Bismarck Brown Y 10-5 M

0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
-0.050 0

200

400
600
Wavelength (nm)

800

1000

At first glance, all three peaks appear to be the same size, but on closer inspection of the y-axis
units, it is evident that they are very different in height. Rather than leaving the autoscale on for
this axis, it is better form to scale the y-axis for all 3 graphs to the same values.

Rhodamine WT 10-5 M
Absorbance (au)

3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000
-0.500 0

200

400
600
Wavelength (nm)

800

1000

800

1000

Absorbance (au)

Methyl Orange 10-5 M

3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000
-0.500 0

200

400
600
Wavelength (nm)

Absorbance (au)

Bismarck Brown Y 10-5 M

3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000
-0.500 0

200

400
600
Wavelength (nm)

800

1000

The difference in magnitude of the absorbance peaks for the 3 indicators now becomes evident.
In this case, all three indicators can be plotted on one graph and a much better visual
comparison is achieved.

Mixture of Indicators
3.000
2.500

Absorbance (au)

2.000

Bismarck Brown Y 10-5 M

1.500

Rhodamine WT 10-5 M

1.000
Methyl Orange 10-5 M
0.500
0.000
0
-0.500

200

400

600

Wavelength (nm)

800

1000

Calibration Curves
Calibration curves are an important part of determining concentrations of material in a matrix.
When plotting a calibration curve, only the data points are plotted since a trendline will be
added. The first graph shows both a data line and a trendline, as well as the equation of the line
and the R2 value for that line. When inserting a trendline, one must determine whether the line
must pass through the 0,0 point. For most calibration curves, that is the case. The second
graph shows a proper calibration curve.

Calibration for CSTR Fluorometer

100

Chart Divisions

80

y = 0.9886x - 1.947
R = 0.998

60
40
20
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

80

90

100

-20

Rhodamine Concentration (ug/L

Calibration for CSTR Fluorometer

100
90

Chart Divisions

80

y = 0.9536x
R = 0.9958

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Rhodamine Concentration (ug/L