VOLUME
19, N O .
1, J A N U A R Y
the analyst's
1947
17 A
column
ΤΛτικίΝβ the past year several editorials have highlighted new -*-' and expanding activities of this publication, now called ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. We intend to continue such discussions in every issue. We have felt for some time t h a t it is appropriate to discuss informally points of view, meetings, new approaches to analysis, and problems of academic and applied analysis. Good editorial comment can crystallize and express opinions held by each analyst and show where improvements can be made.
PLATINUM
T o some analysts a few of the papers published within the past year and the column on instrumentation may seem a far cry from the type of analysis for which they were trained in college. This is true, but, unless those responsible for analysis in teaching and in industrial laboratories employ these new techniques, they may find other specialized groups becoming analysts. The view point of these groups is too narrow, however, in t h a t they think primarily of the instrument and not of the problems which it can solve. Every analytical group must include those who can use, design, and build such equipment, but, over and above this, there must be supervision of the proper balance for the precision and accuracy of the method for which the instrument is to be used and its relationship to other methods which may not involve instruments. I T IS encouraging to note that some universities are beginning to appoint new faculty members who have a modern approach to analysis. However, such appointments are rare and a t the present writing will not affect the over-all approach to modern analytical techniques which are now used in many industrial laboratories. While qualitative and quantitative analysis have a place in the curriculum, in teaching principles of chemistry and the rudimentary techniques of classical methods, they do not adequately present to the student how modern analysis is now commonly done. T H E principles and physical methods for carrying out routine procedures more automatically are all about us if we will only apply them intelligently. We predict t h a t in the not too distant future such apparatus will be common and that the fallibility of human manipulation and attendant boredom will be largely eliminated.
fina£tScientific tutd PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM CATALYSTS. Salts and Solutions of the Platinum Metals.
T H E New Brunswick Group of. the New Jersey Section of the ACS is collaborating with Rutgers University in sponsoring a series of eight weekly lectures on advanced instrumental methods by authorities in the field. The lectures, tentatively scheduled to begin Feb. 5, and given at the graduate level, are designed for chemists working in near-by industries. This is a highly credit able venture, and we wish it success, with the hope that others may be able to sponsor similar worth-while programs.
ELECTRODES for electrolytic processes.
P A P E R S reporting analytical developments during the war are being released and received in our editorial offices in increasing numbers. Some arc strictly war applications developed to solve a particular problem; others are broader in scope and represent new approaches and new techniques for the analyst to use or master. The paper by W. F. Libby, "Measurement of Radio active Tracers", this issue, page 2, is representative of the broader view. Papers which extend our horizon are always welcome, and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTBY will continue to publish promptly all such worth-while contributions.
WE INVITE YOUR INQUIRIES AND WILL BE GLAD TO SEND ON REQUEST OUR NEW FOLDER 1-20, "PLATINUM, GOLD & SILVER FOR SCIENCE, INDUSTRY & THE ARTS"
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