10
Analytical
chemist
1 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
,
0:
........ '
I
I
I
I
Analytical
instrumentation
,
,
" ... -- ....
D
10
D
,
,
,
,
, , ,
\
Fig. 1.7. Two-way paths that can be followed to transmit information in Analytical Chemistry
(2) primary (e.g. scientific papers), secondary (e.g. reviews, monographs) and
tertiary bibliographic sources (e.g. official protocols, textbooks), which are
both used and fed by analytical chemists;
(3) students, in the educational context;
(4) computers, which are supplied with software and data in order to extract the
information required; and
(5) instruments, which are programmed to supply the data needed. The link between the analytical chemist and instruments is currently established via a
two-way computer- instrument connection (see the 5-6-4 cycle in Fig. 1.7).
Other ways of conveying analytical information (e.g. those that link instruments, literature sources or students and society) are not directly related to
the analytical chemist. While each link involves a specific type of information, all
links share the fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry outlined in its definition.
The scheme of Fig. 1.7 illustrates the variety and complexity of Analytical
Chemistry relationships and reveals the need to develop effective systems to
ensure fluent, reliable, efficient communication between links.
1.3 Analytical Chemical References
As a metrological science, Analytical Chemistry relies on the measurement of
parameters [specifically, (bio)chemical parameters] . To measure is to compare.
In order to be able to compare, one needs references that are called "standards".
Just as measuring length requires using the metre, making analytical chemical
measurements entails using reference landmarks, on the basis of which analytical results are expressed. When, for example, the concentration of a given