A schematic overview of the historical evolution of Analytical Chemistry

The historical evolution of Analytical Chemistry is briefly discussed as related to the progress of Chemistry within the 16–19th centuries under the leadership of Paracelsus, Boyle, Lavoisier and Dalton. A clear distinction is made between chemical analysis (up to the end of the 19th c.) and today’s Analytical Chemistry, paying close attention to a number of aspects and consequences related to the chemical revolution which took place at the overlap of the 18–19th c. which resulted in the quantification of Chemistry, causing increasing development and improvement of the chemical metrology which was an essential factor for Chemistry to acquire a scientific dimension and to become more specialised during the 19th century. A panoramic view of the whole development is presented by resorting to the inclusion of a number of synoptical tables outlining the stepwise progress of Chemistry, chemical analysis and Analytical Chemistry within the five last centuries taking into consideration the main protagonists involved as well as the experimental means, techniques and methodologies used and/or developed. Received: 20 February 1996 / Accepted: 21 May 1996