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"Calibrant"
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Sir: Your February editorial speaks of most-used words. I discovered a new word in a paper appearing in the January 1983 issue of ANALYTICAL C H E M I S T R Y . The paper is "Standards for Nanosecond Fluorescence Decay Time Measurements," by Roger Lampert et al., p. 68. In the last line of the fourth paragraph the authors use the word "calibrant." I have not been able to find this word in any dictionary, but could give a good definition: "Any reference material, sample, or synthetic material used in establishing a calibration." Terms commonly used by ASTM Committee E-2 are: standard reference materials, reference materials, working samples, certified reference materials, in-house standards, etc., but these might or might not be a part of a given calibration. I like the term "calibrant" and wonder if it would be worth pursuing the suggested definition with IUPAC or with ASTM E-2. It's rare that chemists come up with new terminology. The authors are to be complimented on this term because there has been a need for so long. I used to say calibration curves are standards-dependent. Now I can say they are calibrant-dependent. W. R. Kennedy ASTM Committee E-2 on Emission Spectroscopy ASTM 1916 Race St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 Editor's note: When contacted about the above comments the authors of the paper were surprised since they thought the term was in common use. However, when their search revealed that the word does not appear in any dictionary, they did not raise any objection to Kennedy pursuing the suggested definition with IUPAC, etc. Editorially we view the suggested definition as reasonable and sufficiently specific, [-ant in the dictionary as à suffix for a noun means inter alii, a thing that promotes a specific action
CIRCLE 63 ON READER SERVICE CARD 704 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 55, NO. 7, JUNE 1983
or process (such as calibration) or a thing that is used for a specific purpose (such as calibration), so a broader definition could be "any reference material, sample, synthetic material, or instrument used for calibration. "]
Analysis, Identification, Determination, and Assay Sir: Definitions of the terms analysis, identification, determination, and assay (p. 172, January 1983) are very helpful, but I believe if the facts were surveyed carefully, there would be a revision concerning the use of the outmoded term assay. I think the term should be dropped completely and its absence would cause no hardship. In the context of the suggested use, purity or % purity with the analyte, compound, or name specified would be adequate instead of assay. The word assay (used as a noun, transitive verb, or intransitive verb) has its origins in alchemy and the assay of precious materials (metals, gemstones, bullion, etc.). It is also used in the sense of an attempt or endeavor (see "Oxford" and other dictionaries). Some dictionaries also indicate its use in the context of worth or estimate. Some of these definitions, however, do not indicate the essential quantitative aspects related to chemical analysis. The greatest current use of the term assay is in the areas of biochemistry, clinical and pharmaceutical chemistry, and in the mining industry. Its use in these areas will be the most difficult of all to eliminate. However, with proper presentation and publicity I believe it could be done. Lloyd E. Smythe Department of Analytical Chemistry The University of New South Wales P.O. Box 1 Kensington, New South Wales Australia
