REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTS
Division of Analytical Chemistry Completes 20 Years of Activity Resurgence of analytical chemistry in the past two decades has been paralleled by the formation a n d g r o w t h of the Division of Analytical Chemistry, American Chemical Society. Probably the most characteristic feature of the expansion of both in recent years is a widespread interest in instrumentation of analysis rphe American Chemical Society's •*- 135th national meeting at Boston this month will mark completion of a 20-year period during which members interested in analytical chemistry have met as a separate division. Having first met officially in 1939 as the Division of Microchemistry, the group merged in the following year with the Analytical Section— which separated from the Division of Physical and Inorganic chemistry—and was renamed the Division of Analytical and Microchemistry. In 1949 the name was shortened to the Division of Analytical Chemis-
try, its present name. Since its inception two decades ago, the division has grown steadily, both in numbers and in stature. Membership increased from 122 in 1940 to 2735 in 1958. The value of the contributions made to the profession of analytical chemistry by division members cannot, of course, be measured quantitatively; but it is interesting to note the parallel growth of analytical chemistry as a professional field in the United States, and of the division itself. Development and growth in a field are engendered by external factors
—economic, military, and social. But the growth of the field indicates the need for group action, group action advances the field, and those organizations dependent upon activities within the field come to support the group. All benefit to an extent far greater than the needs of the moment dictate. So it goes with the Division of Analytical Chemistry. One cannot peg a particular period and say without qualification that the profession of analytical chemistry began at that time. Probably the first attempt to put analytical chemistry
VOL. 31, NO. 4, APRIL 1959 ·
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REPORT F O R A N A L Y T I C A L
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Substantial progress has been made in instrumentation during the past 2 decades. The t o p photograph illustrates the older t y p e instrumentation used for mass spectrometric studies of fuel gases. The lower photograph shows an array of present day mass spectrometers. Left to right are shown a process monitor, regular mass spectrometer and the large analytical t y p e . The " b e f o r e and a f t e r " photos illustrate progress made in a l l areas of analytical instrumentation
on a theoretical basis was made by Wilhelm Ostwald in his book, "The Foundations of Analytical Chemist r y , " published in 1894. This inspired efforts toward improved methods of analysis, and resulted in bringing new light on hydrolysis, acid-basis titrations, formation of complex salts, and other fundamental phenomena (4) • N o t only were existing methods improved, but new fields of research were initiated. Subsequently came application of
physical and physico-chemical methods to the solution of analytical problems. Microanalytical Chemistry Develops
Until about the end of the 19th century interest in analysis continued to be centered mainly in the composition of inorganic matter. B u t then methods of organic synthesis increasingly became the preoccupation of chemists throughout the world, and the general feeling
REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS
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Advances in instrumentation have been accompanied by equally substantial progress in providing adequate facilities for analytical research, development, and testing. Shown at top is General Electric Company's standardizing laboratory at Schenectady in 1897. Below is the way GE's research laboratory near Schenectady appears today. The main building is in the foreground and the metals and ceramics building near the water tower
seemed to be t h a t the well of new discoveries in inorganic chemistry had run dry. Before the trend had fairly gotten started, however, the development of new products and processes started bringing about a need for better methods of analysis and control. Friedrich Emich's microchemical work from 1900 onward established him as the founder and pioneer of the science of microchemistry (1). I n 1911 his "Lehrbuch der Mikrochemie" was published and the outline of microchemistry was established, mostly on the basis of ex-
perimental work of Emich and his assistant, Julius Donau. I n 1910, Fritz Pregl—like Emich, an Austrian from Graz—-investigating the bile acids, found occasion to extend the use of microchemical methods to the organic field (2). H e continued his interest in organic micromethods, and his efforts in developing them were recognized through a Nobel Prize in Chemistry presented to him in 1923. His text on the subject helped to stimulate interest throughout the world, and by t h e time the third edition of "Quantitativ Organische Mikro-
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analyse" appeared in 1930, manyEuropean industrial laboratories had adopted quantitative organic microanalytical methods for some routine procedures. Previously, by 1922, enough in terest had been aroused to bring about publication of a journal de voted entirely to papers on microchemistry. Emil Haim and Co., Leipzig and Vienna, started pub lication of Mikrochemie, which was edited by Emich, Pregl, Lieb, and other well known microchemists. Microchemistry was introduced in the United States during the late twenties and early thirties, partly through the efforts of former stu dents of Emich and Pregl. The trend of its growth, both here and abroad, was rather clearly reflected in the increase in the number of papers on microchemistry appear ing over the years. During the tenyear period, 1890-1900, eight papers were published, dealing largely with the use of the microscope. Be tween 1911 and 1919, 102 papers on microchemistry were published. The period from 1925 to 1930 saw the appearance of 440. In the single year 1931, there came 850. And in the year 1934, about 2000 papers on microchemistry appeared in the various journals (S). Inevitably, such vastly increased interest led to special symposia on various phases of the subject. The first of these to be sponsored within the American Chemical Society was held at the 89th national meeting in New York City, September 1935. But this expansion of interest in microchemical methods, while a phenomenon in itself, nevertheless served as an accompaniment to a steady growth of interest in other aspects of analytical chemistry.
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
I
Interwoven with the growth of analytical chemistry is the rapid development of instrumental meth ods of analysis, especially in the post-World War II period. This has been characterized by a tend ency to use the terms "analytical instruments" and "instrumental analysis" each in a different con text. There is a long history of
REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS Officers of the Division of Analytical Chemistry, 1938 to 1959 Year
Chairman
1938 W. 11. Kirner 1939 I,. T. Hallett 1940 C. W. Mason 1941 G. E . F . Lundell 1942 G. L. Royer 1943 H. L. Diehl 1944 E. W. D. Huffman 1945 F . W. Power 1946 W. M. MacNevin 1947 M. L. Willard 1948 P. J. Elving
SecretaryTreasurer L.. T. Hallett G.. L. Royer G. IJ. Royer F. W. Power F. W. Power F. W. Power C. M. Alter C. M. Alter It. A. Burdett It. A. Burdett It. A. Burdett
cooperation between instrument makers and analysts. Success of microchemical methods, for ex ample, was dependent upon de velopment of a balance for weigh ing microsamples with the same precision that an ordinary balance could measure macrosamples. W. H. F. Kuhlniann, an instrument maker from Hamburg, Germany, succeeded in producing the desired instrument. His first balances had a capacity of 20 grams and weighed accurately to 0.01 to 0.02 milli gram. At Pregl's suggestion, and with his advice, Kuhlmann at tempted to increase the sensitivity tenfold. In 1911 he assembled the first balance having a sensitivity of 0.001 milligram (2). Analytical Division Dates Back T w o Decades
Growth of the field of analytical chemistry indicated the need for group action in the form of techni cal programs and publications. Within the American Chemical So ciety, this resulted in formation of the Microchemical Section of the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. Under the leadership of A. A. Benedetti-Pichler and F. Schneider, this section sponsored a symposium on microchemical meth ods at the Kansas City ACS meet ing in 1936. Its success led to a desire to organize the section as a separate division within the ACS. After several more highly success ful meetings on microchemical tech niques, such a move was made and the group was granted divisional status in 1938 by the ACS Council at the Milwaukee national meet ing. The first official meeting of the Division of Microchemistry was held at the Baltimore national 24 A
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Year
Chairman
SecretaryTreasurer
1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
W. A. Kirklin G. T. Wernimont H. H. Willard B. L. Clarke II. A Laitinen G. F. Smith W. G B a t t J. W. Stillman It. P. Chapman J. H. Yoe W. W. Brandt
W. G. B a t t W. G. Batt W. G. B a t t W. G. Batt AV. G. Batt R. F. Chapman It. F . Chapman W. W. Brandt W. W. Brandt C. N. Reilley C. N. Reilley
meeting during April 1939. In that same yea]·, the Analytical Section of the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemist].·/, having voted to separate tjom that divi sion, appointed a. committee to ap proach th.& executive Committee of the new division, suggesting a mer ger of the two groups. The merger suggestion was presented to the Di vision of Microchemistry at the Boston meeting. A vote on the proposition, taken by postcard at Detroit in 1940, ga.ve overwhelm ing approval. The ACS Council ap proved the merger and accompany ing name-change to the Division of Analytical and Microchemistry, and officers of the combined groups were first elected in September, 1940. Membership in 1940 amounted to 122 persons, and by 1942 had in creased to 181. Membership de creased in the three succeeding years and hit a low point of 120 in 1945, probably due to many poten tial members entering war service. In 1946, members of the armed forces were being released in large numbers, and enrollment in the di vision resumed its annual climb. Membership totalled 263 in 1948. These postwar years marked the beginning of a series of exciting new developments, such as the use of transistorized electronic equipment and the advent of chromatography for control use, which has continued to the present time. Division mem bers recognized the situation and decided to point out to fellow analy tical chemists the advantages to be gained by keeping abreast of de velopments through division activi ties. Writing in the January 1949, issue of ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, editor Walter J. Murphy com
mented on the possibility that divi sion rolls could be increased to 1000 members if current members would serve informally as boosters of the organization. By the time the May issue appeared, he was able to state editorially that membership had in creased to 700, and by the end of the year the number had passed the hoped-for 1000 and gone on to 122Ί. Membership dropped off again in. the following two years, reaching a. trough in 1951 at 701 persons. Pos sibly this could foe attributed indi rectly to a dip in industrial activity during that period as well as uncer tainties produced by the Korean situation. At any rate, gains have been shown from 1951 to the pres ent, the biggest jump taking place in 1955 when membership of 2115 persons was almost exactly double that of the previous year. Although the Division of Analyti cal Chemistry is the fourth youngest of the society, its 2735 members make it the third largest among the total of 22. Clearly, its growth has been remarkable, to· say the least. What are the attractions which make membership desirable to the individual? There are many ways in which the analytical chemist can keep up with developments in his profession. Published papers and reports, review courses, and round table discussions all have their place in the scheme of things. But the latest information is usually given out at professional meetings. If unrestricted in nature, as most fundamental work should be, the latest accomplishments are usually announced by scientists àt a meeting of his peers. Here he can receive the greatest immediate understanding of his work, and here he may arouse spirited discussion and obtain candid reactions. Symposia Philosophy Adopted by Division
Over the years, specialized symposia have come to be used as a device for exchanging information on a given topic in concentrated form. The Division of Analytical Chemistry is a strong advocate of this method. In the ten-year period from 1949 to 1958, inclusive, the division
REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS
sponsored 46 symposia on various topics at its national meetings alone. The analytical chemist in terested in methods of instrumental analysis would have found several symposia of pertinent value during that period, for example: chemical analysis by means of infrared spectrophotometry ; polarographic methods; advances in gas chroma tography. For those interested in nuclear analysis: nucleonics and tracer techniques in analytical
chemistry; radiochemical analysis. For the microchemist: microchemistry and. the petroleum industry; microchemistry. For the.educator: problems in the teaching of instru mental analysis; teaching organic analysis. In addition, there were many other symposia, some of a general ized nature and others geared to more specialized aspects of the pro fession. These titles alone are in dicative of the leadership of the
division in presenting resumes of the latest developments of current interest to the analytical chemist. Interesting to note is the fact that, of these symposia, exactly half, 23, were jointly sponsored with other divisions and organizations. Surely this is a reflection of the extent to which chemical analysis cuts across every branch of chemi cal endeavor. In addition to sym posia presented at the national meetings, many other papers cover ing these and other topics were given at general sessions of the di visional meetings. Summer Symposia Started in 1948
The desire to discuss selected topics at a more leisurely pace led to the Summer Symposium series. These were initiated under joint sponsorship of the Division of Analytical Chemistry and ANALYTI CAL CHEMISTRY in 1948. The goal is to present specialized topics which can be covered in a short period and in surroundings condu cive to learned discussion. The first of these, in 1948, was concerned with nucleonics and analytical chemistry. Typical of those that followed were: standards and standard methods ; analytical chem istry of less familiar elements; and analytical chemistry of fused media.
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26 A
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
We have seen how the growth of analytical chemistry led to or ganization of the Division of Ana lytical Chemistry. We also have seen how the group has helped ad vance the field of analytical chemis try. I t may be of interest to ob serve how.those organizations de pendent upon progress in the field support the work of the division. Nobody need be reminded that underwriting expenses of personnel attending meetings is a major form of support by industrial firms, uni versities and colleges, and govern ment agencies. Again, nobody need be reminded that permission to re port research results is a major form of support. Public Recognition of Accomplish ments of Analytical Chemists
But what about support in the form of public recognition and en couragement for both present and
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potential members of the profession and its associated fields? Within the Division of Analytical Chemistry there have been three outstanding contributions of this type. The Fisher Scientific Co. established its Fisher Award in Analytical Chemistry in 1947 for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging outstanding contributions to the science of pure and applied analytical chemistry. This consists of a cash grant of $1000 plus an additional amount for expenses incurred by the recipient in traveling to the meeting at which the award is presented. The winner also receives an etching. I n 1953, Beckman Instruments, Inc., established the Beckman Award in Chemical Instrumentation. This is given for outstanding achievement in developing new instruments for chemical analysis and in application of analytical instruments for chemical process measurement and control. This award also consists of $1000 cash plus an amount for travel expenses to the presentation meeting. The winner also receives a scroll. Both awards are presented annually.
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The third award sponsored by an industrial firm was the Merck Graduate Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry, granted annually with a stipend of $2500 during the years 1949 to 1957, inclusive. These weie sponsored by Merck and Co. Further details of this award and its winners appear elsewhere in this report. In such ways are the trends of analytical chemistry reflected in the growth of the division. But what of the future? Although it is difficult to make predictions, suffice it to say that the profession of analytical chemistry, the Division of Analytical Chemistry, and the benefits accruing to those whose activities are dependent on analytical chemistry should all advance and increase as man continues to probe technological frontiers.
Literature Cited
(1) Benedetti-Piehler, Α. Α., IND. ENG. CHEM., ANAL. ED., 12, 226 (1940).
(2) Kirner, W. R., Ibid., 5, 363 (1933). (3) Niederl, J. B., Ibid., 7, 216 (1935). (4) Willard, H. H., Ibid., 2, 201 (1930). Circle No. 114 on Readers' Service Card 28 A
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
