Analytical Chemistry — today''s definition and interpretation

Conclusion Since every science is defined as a way of knowledge accumulation and theory formulation, the magnificent cognitive power of Analytical Chemistry cannot be disregarded by any natural scientist. Therefore the state of the art in the field of Analytical Chemistry has a strong impact on other scientific disciplines. Without the cognitive feedback of analysis, no synthesis, no high-tech process, or pollution control actions are possible. Since the whole perception of the properties and laws of the material world are so strongly dependent on the level of performance of Analytical Chemistry it has become a self-reliant, chemical subdiscipline. Analytical Chemistry also includes a tremendous economic side, directly through the market for analytical instruments and, above all, indirectly through decisions taken in industry and the society as a whole based on analytical results. Because nearly a third of all chemists work in the field of Analytical Chemistry, it should be taught at a sufficient level at every University which has a Chemistry Department, in order to ensure the continued knowledge base which this subdiscipline uniquely provides.     

Analytical Chemistry — today''s definition and interpretation

Conclusion The definition of Analytical Chemistry given above reflects not only the place, importance, structure and functions of this science today but also the trends in its evolution. Its nearest perspective are the rise of analytical knowledge to the higher levels in the hierarchy of the system of chemistry, the creation of new analytical methods for study of the composition, structure and dynamics of ever more highly organized chemical objects up to living reactors.     

Analytical Chemistry,Past, Present and Future*This paper is dedicated to the Editorial Board of Analytical Letters.

ABSTRACT

Analytical Chemistry as a science has its own history as well as an important present and a sure future.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role of Analytical Chemistry as a science and of Chemical Analysis as an art in the development of human society.

The correlation between method and instrument hyphenated by the sample is discussed along a long period of active Analytical Chemistry.

The connection between theory of Analytical Chemistry and the practice of chemical analysis enables us to be sure of the future of Analytical Chemistry.

We must consider that to do science it is necessary to know the history of science as well as to make research to be used not only in the present, but also in the near future.

Surely, Analytical Chemistry as a real scientific area will be on the top of sciences in the next century.     

Is Analytical Chemistry an autonomous field of science?

Summary Analytical Chemistry is an autonomous branch of science. It provides empirical meaning for chemical concepts, and it has a significant component of a science of the artificial within chemistry. Processes of sample analysis and model construction that are characteristic to Analytical Chemistry, inherently involve discovering of new objects and of deeply hidden regularities. This places the discipline at the frontier of research. Moreover, it is particularly beneficial for the methodology of science to study sample analysis and model construction using the examples from Analytical Chemistry. For the same reason the methodological self-reflection of a chemist-analyst can make an original contribution to our understanding of science as a whole.

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Analytische Chemie — autonomer Zweig der Wissenschaft?

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Presented at the First International Symposium on History and Philosophy in Analytical Chemistry, Vienna, November 22–23, 1985

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On leave of absence from the University of Warsaw, Poland     

Changes in analytical chemistry corresponding to the stage of industrial development

Summary The industrial application of analytical chemistry is characterized by its mutual dependence on the stage of technical development. This relation and the changes that have taken place during the last 150 years are demonstrated by way of examples. At the beginning of this period analytical chemistry had only to serve as supplier of analytical data for the investigation of chemical systems, and today at the end of the time observed a great variety of analytical methods produce and supply in special fields most of the information for control and regulation systems of technical processes.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Hanns Malissa as meritorious founder of the Symposium on Philosophy and History of Analytical Chemistry     

Analytical chemical methods as systems producing chemical information by inference

Summary Analytical chemical methods as systems produce chemical information about the material to be analyzed. Analytical chemical systems as semiosis consist of analytical signal production and analytical chemical signal interpretation and produce chemical information by inference in an indirect way through analytical information. From the logical point of view the chemical information produced by analytical chemical systems is only credible. Generalizing the results the idea of diagnostic systems can be introduced and the analytical chemical methods as systems are a special type of diagnostic systems.

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Chemisch-analytische Systeme zur Erlangung chemischer Informationen

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Presented at the First International Symposium on History and Philosophy in Analytical Chemistry, Vienna, November 22–23, 1985     

Analytical Chemistry in Russia

Analytical Chemistry in the former Soviet Union and Russia is considered. Areas of the present analytical science in the country are noted and significant achievements are mentioned. Important centers of the researches are listed and education in Analytical Chemistry is examined. Received: 7 July 1997 / Revised: 28 August 1997 / Accepted: 7 September 1997