Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Classical
Today's
Basic principles
Kinetics
Type of analyte
Thermodynamics & kinetics
Number of analytes
Concentration level
& sample mass
Objectives
Chem-, physicochem & physical
Inorganic-organic & biochemical
Dimensions
Concern
As much as possible
Looking for isolate molecules
Speciation & statial distribution
Multidimensional
Data & models &
green side effects
Figure 2.5
Evolution of Analytical Chemistry from classical analysis to the current real work.
properties of the methods and related topics, like traceability, screening and process monitoring, which are really
the aspects which differentiate the analytical practice as a metrological discipline devoted to problem solving [20].
In our opinion, Valcárcel's book of together with his activity in the Federation of European Chemical
Societies (FECS) Working Party on Analytical Chemistry (WPAC) played an important role in the strong
modification of analytical chemistry studies in Spain [21] and also regarding the European consideration of
our discipline [22,23].
Between the recent revolution of the content of analytical chemistry at university level, the change can be
identified in the basic principles from the thermodynamic ones to the close integration between thermodynamic
and kinetic aspects, considering both physical and physicochemical kinetics. On considering the type of
analytes, it is clear that our activity have moved from the inorganic field to the organic one also considering
biochemical analysis. The same extension, not replacement, has been done for a number of considered
analytes; which has moved from one to several (as many as possible elements and/or compounds per sample)
and also for concentration levels of target analytes; which has moved from major and minor components to
trace and ultratrace analysis with an increasing demand on analyses at micro and submicro sample scales. On
the other hand new challenges in analytical chemistry correspond to the need to move from total concentration
determinations to speciation analysis, from average concentration determinations to layer by layer complete
characterization of samples and from simple to bidimensional and multidimensional analyses.
In such a changing context (see Figure 2.5), nowadays we must include the change of analyst conscience
from a simple interest in data analysis to interest in models and the strong consideration of the environmental
side effects of our practice (as a consequence of the high demand of analytical information).
