Analytical Chemical Terms
1. The Importance of Analytical Chemistry
Historically, analytical chemistry has always occupied a vital position in the development of chemistry. The successful elucidation of the process of combustion by Lavoisier was due mainly to his employment of a balance in his investigations; he was among the first to recognize the immense power of quantitative measurements in chemical research. The atomic concept of matter dates back at least to ancient Greece, and certainly was not original with John Dalton. Daltons contribution, above all, was to introduce a quantitative aspect to this notion
an aspect that was verifiable by actual experiment. In a very real sense, then, chemical analysis provided the support necessary to convert the atomic theory from a philosophical abstraction into something of physical significance.
Early chemistry was principally analytical in nature. Only as the body of experimental fact increased did it become possible for the chemist to specialize according to his interestsin other fields. Irrespective of choice, however, he continued to rely heavily upon analytical methods and techniques to provide him with experimental information. Analytical chemistry thus assumed the supporting role of an indispensible tool in advancing the state of knowledge in the fields of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.
This situation is as applicable to the chemistry of today as to that of the past; every experimental investigation relies, .to an extent, upon the results of analytical measurements. A thorough background in analytical chemistry is thus a vital necessity for all who aspire to be chemists, regardless of their field of specialization. Nor need these remarks be limited to prospective chemists. Investigators in virtually all of the physical and biological sciences are obliged to make use of analytical data in the course of their work. The physician relies heavily upon the results of analysis of body fluids。
展开
