Analytical Chemistry September 1955 [antikvár]

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor Power Is Not the Only Aspect Tt is quite understandable tliat tlie greatest emphasis at the first international conference on the peaceful uses of atomic energy staged at Geneva is on power. Certainly, the most immediate need in power-starved areas of the world is a reasonably economical means of providing energy in large quantities. It is this basic essential to modern living that unquestionably is the nucleus for further improving the health and we,alth of millions of now underprivileged peoples. The truth of this statement is evident in every history book. Once relatively cheap power becomes available, agriculture and industry begin to expand and existing material resources can be exploited efficiently. We trust, however, that at the scientific and technological deliberations !it the Geneva Conference the new tracer techniques which the successful sjilitting of the atom made possible, will not be neglected in favor of the more spectacular power aspects. Analysts today have at their command new^ tools for research and the maintenance of closer and more uniform quahty control in man}' fields heretofore not available to them. These should be exploited to the fullest extent in the shortest possible time. We have, of course, followed these developments and many pajjers have appeared in this journal over the past decade. Nevertheless, we were somewhat surprised at the variety of uses of isiotopes in analysis and control work as reported at the recent Birmingham, England, meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry by G. B. Cook of the Isotope Division of the British Atomic Energy Research Establishment at H,anvell. As we listened to Dr. Cook present his paper on "The Use of Radioactive Isotopes for Continuous Control in Industry." we were thoroughly convinced that while much progress in this direction has been made to date, we are merely on the threshold of much greater things. Incidentally, our readers will be very much interested to know that Harwell is ship))ing more radioactive isotopes for analytical and control experimental purposes than any other agency in the world. Analysts who turn to this field of specialization will, we believe, find it particularly challenging and the ultimate rewards in the way of scientific achievement will be especially gratifying. Research analysts most fortunately have gained a very enviable reputation over the past couple of decades for their pioneering into brand new channels of research. As a result, the classical gravimetric and volumetric methods so long considered to be the only tools of analysts have been supplemented, and in many instances superseded, by speedier and more ac- curate techniques. We are most confident that the opportunities offered by the now wide availability of radioisotopes will not go unheeded by the men and women who today direct important research in all forms and fields of analysis. Defining Analytical Chemistry Jn the February 1954 issue of Analytical Chemistry we made the following comment, which caused considerable discussion .among some of our most loyal and consistent readers: While on the subject of names, we wonder sometimes if eventually we in this country and our professional associates abroad will come to the conclusion that the term "analytical chemistry" is too restrictive in the sense that analysts now employ many physical as well as chemical techniques in their work The gist of most of the comment we received was to the effect that our so-called "definition" was still much too restrictive, and we frankly plead guilty. One very well informed reader wrote to us to say that there have been as important extensions on the biological side as on the physical side, so that the term of "analytical chemistry" as now used is restrictive in both directions. Our reader from abroad, A. L, Bacharaoh of Glaxo Laboratories, Ltd., Greenford, Middlesex, England, then summarizes his views in the following vein: \Vhether anything should be done about the terms "chemical analysis," "analytical chemistry," and suggested alternatives, I am not at all sure, though I am pretty certain that nothing can or will be. Fortunately, on both sides of the Atlantic people know pretty well nowadays what is meant by chemical analysis and how wide a sphere of activities its practice covers, so that a little terminological imprecision probably does not do much harm. Dr. Bacharach certainly makes some good points. It is very evident that the field of analytical chemistry is expanding its boundaries in many diverse directions. To attempt to coin an all-inclusive descriptive title is difficult and, perhaps, at the moment an unnecessary task to undertake when there are so many more important things awaiting accomplishment. We must confess, however, that the subject of semantics intrigues and frequently infuriates us—this latter happens when we listen to individuals (frequently chemists) who would convey the impression that the word "research" should not be associated with the term "analytical chemist." The real analytical chemist is most certainly carrying on research, even though, perhaps, the objective of such research is not the synthesis of some new compound. 13S9