A Conflict of Analysis: Analytical Chemistry and Milk Adulteration in Victorian Britain

Abstract

This article centres on a particularly intense debate within British analytical chemistry in the late nineteenth century, between local public analysts and the government chemists of the Inland Revenue Service. The two groups differed in both practical methodologies and in the interpretation of analytical findings. The most striking debates in this period were related to milk analysis, highlighted especially in Victorian courtrooms. It was in protracted court cases, such as the well known Manchester Milk Case in 1883, that analytical chemistry was performed between local public analysts and the government chemists, who were often both used as expert witnesses. Victorian courtrooms were thus important sites in the context of the uneven professionalisation of chemistry. I use this tension to highlight what Christopher Hamlin has called the defining feature of Victorian public health, namely conflicts of professional jurisdiction, which adds nuance to histories of the struggle of professionalisation and public credibility in analytical chemistry.     

Analytical Chemistry in France

Abstract

In this day and age it is not an easy task to describe in a few pages the current status of any scientific discipline. This is particularly difficult if one deals with a n area such as analytical chemistry in France which is on the upswing. The present wirteup is focused on developments in French universities since the war: we shall not deal with analytical chemistry in industry, even though chemical companies and the French Atomic Energy Commission have had a paramount influence on recent developments. Indeed, French analytical chemists are being educated mainly to serve the needs of industrial laboratories.     

分析化学发展中的几个问题

分析化学在迅速发展中出现了一些令人关注的问题。它们是：如何确定现代分析化学煌范围，如何给字以明确的定义；对分析化学煌前沿的预测；当今分析化学在化学中的地位；对分析介的批评意见的反思；分析化学应注意克有孤自身的弱点；如何培养高水平的分析化学专业人材等。本文就这些问题介绍国内外同行的一些看法发表本人的浅见。     

What Kind of Professional Training of Analytical Chemists is Required in Classical Universities?

The aims, curricula, and types of professional training of analytical chemists in classical universities are considered. Based on the data of a questionnaire filled at by the members of of analytical chemistry departments, an optimum set of special courses was proposed for the specialty analytical chemistry. An alternative set of special courses corresponding to the applied approach to training analytical chemists is sometimes taught to students of new specialties. A compromise between the two approaches is the introduction of additional educational programs.     

Analytical Chemistry in Romania

Abstract

Until now there has been no attempt to write the complete history of analytical chemistry in Romania. Nevertheless, we consider it important that our young chemists learn about the history of analytical chemistry in our country, because you can never step forward if you disregard the past. Furthermore, scientists in other countries might find the history and current status of analytical chemistry in Romania of interest.     

Foundation and development of the Perm school of analytical chemists

The steps in the development of analytical chemistry and the organization of the school of analytical chemists in the city of Perm are considered. The role of G.G. Kobyak, the first head of the Division of Analytical Chemistry, in the organization of scientific research at the division, the selection of division staff, and the subsequent continuity of the formation of the division and the school of analytical chemists at Perm State University is outlined.     

分析化学的第二个春天

从研究分析化学的历史发展入手，以大量历史事实为根据，指出分析化学曾经历过两次重大变革。第一次变革(19世纪末至20世纪初)使分析化学从分析化学家的技艺发展为科学；第二次变革(20世纪70年代迄今)则使分析化学进入了分析化学家重新当家作主的、欣欣向荣的“第二个春天”。     

Public relations analyst

Professional scientific societies are becoming increasingly aware of the public image of their members' activities. The Analytical Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry, through the activities of its Honorary Publicity Secretary, is making a conscious effort to inform young people about the activities of analytical chemists and to interest them in the profession of analytical chemistry.     

History of Solution Chemistry of Japan

A historical view of the solution chemistry of Japan is described for a wide range of fields of solution chemistry, which relates to physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry and bioinorganic chemistry, and colloid and polymer chemistry. The works by pioneers of Japanese solution chemistry are introduced, some of which are not well recognized internationally. The influences of Japanese solution chemistry on the world and vice versa are discussed on the basis of a rather personal viewpoint. Recent activities of Japanese solution chemists at the national and international levels are also reviewed.     

History of Solution Chemistry of Japan

An historical view of solution chemistry of Japan is described for a wide range of fields of solution chemistry, which relates to physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry and bioinorganic chemistry, and colloid and polymer chemistry. The works by pioneers of Japanese solution chemistry are introduced, some of which are not well recognized internationally. The influences of Japanese solution chemistry on the world and vice versa are discussed on the basis of a rather personal viewpoint. Recent activities of Japanese solution chemists at the national and international levels are also reviewed.     

Optimization of analytical information

Analytical chemists need formal strategies for optimal decision making at all levels of analytical chemistry: laboratory organization, analytical method design and selection, data interpretation.     

Kinetic Methods of Analysis: How Do They Rate?

During the past few years there has been a resurgence of interest in kinetic aspects of analytical chemistry and in kinetic methods of analysis. The increased activity is a result of advances that have been made in instrumentation and in data processing techniques. Still, the kinetic approach is not widely applied by practicing analytical chemists. Why is this true? Why are kinetic methods not among the most common methods in use by analytical chemistry? This paper discusses the advantages and limitations of kinetic methods and addresses the probable reasons that they are not widely used. Several new principles have cmerged that are guiding the development of new kinetic-based determinations. These developments have made it possible to compensate for errors that result from changes in reaction conditions and to determine accurately multiple components in mixtures. With these advances kinetic methods are approaching the reliability of traditional equilibrium-based determinations and should be re-evaluated by analytical chemists.     

Aluminium speciation in environmental samples: a review

Because of its toxic effects on living beings, Al may represent an environmental hazard, particularly under increased acidic conditions. Growing environmental concern over the presence of increased Al concentrations in soil solutions and fresh waters resulted in the development of numerous analytical techniques for the determination of Al species. Al has a very complex chemistry that is significantly influenced by pH. Different Al species are present in environmental solutions, and many of them are unstable. Contamination of samples and reagents by extraneous Al represents an additional problem in speciation of Al at trace concentrations. Due to these reasons quantitative determination of particular chemical forms of Al is still a very difficult task for analytical chemists. The most important analytical methodologies of the last decade and new trends for the speciation of Al in environmental samples are comprehensively reviewed here.     

Scandinavian contributions to analytical chemistry

A review is given of the major contributions of Scandinavian chemists to analytical chemistry, illustrating the great importance of their work in development of the science as it is known today.     

过程分析化学的提出与进展

文中对过程分析化学(PAC)的应用进行了全面评述,主要包括PAC的一般概念、特征、五个阶段和各种应用技术以及发展前景。     

Analytical Chemistry in Israel

Abstract

Analytical chemistry in Israel is not in as good a shape as one may wish. Several attempts have been made to instill interest in this branch of the profession among faculty members, practicing chemists and students, but no great stride forward can be recorded, and on the contrary, some set-backs must be noted. Nevertheless, analytical chemistry is practiced vigorously in several laboratories, and original Israeli contributions in this field have been noted by the international community of analytical chemists. It is on this background that the present survey is being presented.     

Interpretation of analytical chemical information by pattern recognition methods-a survey

Since the late sixties, pattern recognition techniques have been used by analytical chemists to facilitate the interpretation of multivariate analytical information. Most research within the field has focused on adapting pattern recognition methods to chemical data. This has been necessary since chemical data are often complicated by the fact that distributions are unknown. Through the first decade of chemical pattern recognition, promising results have been obtained even though the data sets studied have frequently been rather small for statistical analysis. The past few years have shown that an increasing number of analytical chemists are interested in the sheer utility of pattern recognition. This can be taken as a valid sign of a useful approach. The present communication surveys this development. Those methods which have proved most useful for analytical chemical data are described in some detail, and applications within the various fields of analytical chemistry are reviewed.     

A chemistry home page on the World Wide Web

In this article a brief overview of the World Wide Web (WWW) is given, with some examples of the kind of information and services pertaining to analytical chemistry that can be found there. An existing WWW site that has been set up for analytical chemists is used as a case in point. The article concludes with a brief look at some of the issues raised by publishing on the Internet. Received:15 January 1996 / Accepted: 28 January 1996     

A chemistry home page on the World Wide Web

In this article a brief overview of the World Wide Web (WWW) is given, with some examples of the kind of information and services pertaining to analytical chemistry that can be found there. An existing WWW site that has been set up for analytical chemists is used as a case in point. The article concludes with a brief look at some of the issues raised by publishing on the Internet. Received:15 January 1996 / Accepted: 28 January 1996     

Applications of digital computers in analytical chemistry--I

Digital computers are currently applied to a wide range of chemical problems. Aspects of particular interest to analytical chemists, including statistical treatment. X-ray analysis, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and electroanalytical chemistry, are discussed.