analytical chemistry September 1976, Vol 48, No. 11 Editor: Herbert A. Laitinen EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220151 Managing Editor: Josephine M. Petruzzi Associate Editor: Andrew A. Husovsky Associate €ditor, Easton: Elizabeth R. Rufe Assistant Editors: Barbara Cassatt, Nancy J. Oddenino Editorial Assistant: Deborah M. Cox ProductionManager: Leroy L. Corcoran Associate Manager: Charlotte C. Sayre Art Director: John V. Sinnett Artist: Diane Relch Advisory Board Donald H. Anderson, Edward G. Brame, Jr., Richard P. Buck, Warren B. Crummett, Merie A. Evenson, Velmer Fassei, A. F. Findeis. Robert A. Hofstader, Marjorie G. Horning, Richard S. Juvet, Jr., Lynn L. Lewis, Harry 6. Mark, Jr., Walter C. McCrone, Eugene A. Sawicki, W. D. Shults Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Stanley R. Crouch, Nathan Gochman, Robert W. Hannah, Gary Horlick, James N. Little, Harold M. McNair, David Seligson, R. K. Skogerboe, Donald E. Smith ContributingEditor: Claude A. Lucchesi Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Iii. 60201 Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
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Analytical ChemistryA Century of Progress The special Centennial issue of Chemical and Engineering News (April 6,1976) was devoted to a historical review of the activities of the American Chemical Society and of progress in several branches of chemistry during the past 100 years. It may be of interest to examine this issue from the viewpoint of an analytical chemist. First of all, the Division of Analytical Chemistry was a latecomer in the ACS, originating as the Division of Microchemistry in 1938. Merging with a previous Analytical Section of the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, the Division in 1940 became the Division of Analytical and Microchemistry and only in 1949 assumed its present name. Likewise, in the ACS publications, the Analytical Edition of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry emerged as a publication in 1929, to assume its present name and independent status as recently as 1948. Nevertheless, analytical chemistry served a critical role in the early development of chemistry through quantitative determination of composition. The discovery of argon through the accurate comparison of the density of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere and from chemical sources is a familiar example. The more recent history of the various branches of chemistry is replete with examples of the importance of various forms of instrumental measurements and of quantitative techniques such as relaxation methods for kinetic data. We can only conclude that modern analtyical chemistry derives a great deal from its sister sciences and in turn contributes greatly through the improvement of methodology and cross-fertilization of techniques across the boundaries of science. It is intertwined with so many other disciplines that some find it difficult to rationalize analytical chemistry as a discipline on its own. If we define it as the science of characterization and measurement, and recognize its give-and-take relationship with other branches of chemistry as well as physics and biomedical sciences, then its development to its present status assumes a logical pattern in the history of science.
Manuscript requirements are published in the December 1975 issue, Page 2525. Manuscripts for publication (4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at the ACS Washington address. The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society. Advertising Management: Centcom, Ltd. (for Branch Officers, see page 838 A) ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 48,
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