The Scope of Analytical Chemistry
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of the most coninion errors of editors is failure to define specifically the editorial objectives and scope of their publications. Many an editor excuses such action or lack of action by stating that the editorial content of the publication speaks for itself and provides readers with a fairly good indication of the primary purposes of the journal. To a large extent this thesis is correct, but we believe that it is doubly important for editors of scientific and technical publications to provide specific information on the scope of their respective journals, because a large percentage of the readers of such publications are also contributors or potential contributors On several occasions in the past we have defined specifically the role of =~SALYTICAL CHEMISTRY[18, 215 (1946); 19, 1 (1947); 20, 997 (1948)l. The scope of the publication has been expanded greatly during the past five or six years. In line tyith this expanded editorial program, we have encouraged the submission of papers of a fundamental or theoretica! character. We are pleased with the results to date. To expand this program further, we have addressed the following letter to a representative number, but by no means a coniplete list, of individuals whose research work is generally recognized as dealing with the fundamental aspects of matter and the relationship of such information to the broad field of analytical chemistry.
creasing number of papers concerned with fundamental studies. One proposal has been to devote an annual issue t o such manuscripts. After careful thought, however, it is the considered opinion of the editors t h a t a better plan is t o publish these papers as quickly as possible after their receipt and the usual review and, of course, t o feature them prominently in each issue. This essentially is the present editorial policy. This letter is but one of several ways by which we are contacting those who, n e believe, may have papers in prepai ation dealing with fundamental analytical research, t o encourage authors t o submit such manuscripts to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. We cannot emphasize too strongly that such papers 15 ill receive prompt and sympathetic consideration. The editors of this publication will continue to expand the positive type of editorial program which has found such enthusiastic response from readers and authors in academic and industrial circles. TTe solicit your active cooperation in widening still further the role of this journal by submitting papers dealing lvith the fundamental properties of matter which will provide the basis for the development of analytical methods and techniques and by encouraging others to do likewise.
While discussing one important aspect of ASALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, it is desirable to clarify a number of popular misconceptions: (1) that a contributor to the editorial pages of ASALYTICAL CHEMISTRY niust be a member of the AMERICAXCHEMICALSOCIETY; (2) that a contributor must be a citizen of the United States; (3) that contributions from members of the Society are given priority over papers from nonmenibers; and (4) that only chemists are permitted to Analysts agree that the future growth of analytical chemist r y must come through fundamental studies of the properties submit manuscripts for publication. of matter which can be adapted t o measuring qualitatively Today ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, because its content and quantitatively chemical compounds and elements. serves both the academic and industrial fields, enjoys a Appreciating the full significance of this statement and realizing t h e necessity of defining t h e full scope of AKALYTICAL circulation of over 30,000, with a fairly large proportion CHEMISTRY,your editors over the past fen- years have enof this total in foreign countries. This is by far the couraged authors both by word of mouth and through edilargest circulation of any publication in the field of torials t o submit papers of a fundamental or theoretical character t o this publication. The editors of AKALYTICAL analytical chemistry and definitely indicates the international character of the journal. CHEMISTRYalso would like to point out that the Board of Directors of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY in enunciating Science knows no geographical boundaries and the the basic policies of the Society’s publications [see Chern. CHEMISTRY welcome papers of a editors of XSALYTICAL Eng. Xews, 25, 3855 (1947)l defined one of the important and theoretical or fundamental nature or of immediate primary objectives of the journal in the following words: practical importance regardless of geographical location. ( d ) Articles in both the theoretical and practical sides of Our one and only aim is to maintain and increase the analytical chemistry to be published in ~ ~ S A L Y T I C A LCHmfIsTRY. I n certain cases the articles may be of sufficiently broad fundaservice and thereby the prestige of the publication. mental scope to make publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society desirable. This can be done only if the publication serves every branch, every worker in the broad field of analytical The editors of ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRYhave given conchemistry. siderable thought as to the best means of attracting a n in429
