A NA LVTICA L CHEMISTRV
EDITORIAL
April 1962, Vol. 34, No. 4 A P P L I E D JOURNALS, ACS Director of Publications, C. B. Larrabee EditoriaE Director, Richard L. Kenyon Assistant to the Director of Publications, Joseph H . Kuney Assistant to the Editorial Director, Rodney N. Hader Director of Editorial Research, Robert F. Gould
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLETT Managing Editor, ROBERT G. GIBBS
EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. P h o n e : REpublic 7-3337 Teletype WA 23 Associate Editors: G. Gladys Gordon, Sue M. Solliday Editorial Assistants: Katherine H. Ginnane, Virginia E. Stewart, Patricia A. Cunniff Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher Production Staff- Washington: Joseph Jacobs ( A r t Director) John V. Sinnett ( A r t ) Prrrduction Staff-Easton, Pa.: 20th and Northampton Sts. Associate Editor: Charlotte C . Sayre Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe
REGIONAL EDITORIAL BUREAUS East e r n Manager: William Q. Hull (New York) N E W YORK 17, N. Y. 733 Third Ave. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 1725 Pennsylvania Blvd. M i d c o n t i n e n t a n d Western Manager: Arthur Poulos (Chicago) CHICAGO 3, Ill. 36 South Wabash Ave. CLEVELAND 14, Ohio 1367 East Sixth St. SAN FRANCISCO 4, Calif. 57 Post St.
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Contributing Editor: R. H. Miiller Advisory Board: J. E. Barney 11, C. E. Bricker, D . D. DeFord, E. C. Dunlop, J. C. Giddinga, R. F. Goddu, H. V. Malmstadt, W. B. Mason, F. W. Mitchell, Jr., M. L. Moss, J. D. Neuss, L. B. Rogers, B. F. Scribner, Irving Shain, Sidney Siggia Advertising Management REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (for Branch Offices, 8ee page 131 A)
Analytical Instrumentation in Secondary Schools
IT
HAS ONLY BEES since the end of World War I1 t h a t analytical instrumentation has become generally available to colleges and universities. I n addition to direct purchases, academic institutions often acquire instruments as gifts from industry. The government has also been a source either in the form of donations or in connection tvith government rebearch contracts. It seems t h a t me are now entering a n era in n-hich even secondary schools are obtaining analytical instruments. Lack of a sufficient number of adequately trained science teachers a t the secondary school level is often cited as one reason why many gifted students do not initiate careers in science. I n cases, however, where there are good science teachers, these teachers often cannot do their best because of inadequately equipped laboratories. While it is true that many basic principles can be taught with fairly simple equipment, it does seem t h a t more sophisticated types of instrumentation similar to those used in industry would be helpful and challenging to students. It is gratifying to note that some steps are taking place in overcoming this situation in the field of analysis. One such case t h a t has come to our attention is the purchase of infrared spectrophotometers by vocational and technical high schools in several New York and New Jersey communities. These are being used by 15- t o 18-year old students to analyze organic compounds. Use of such equipment supplements and simplifiej analytical procedures involving distillation, precipitation, and other more elaborate phases of analysis. One teacher said t h a t his class finds organic chemistry a much more interesting subject as a result of using spectrophotometers. Other equipment being used successfully in high schools includes gas chromatographs and flame photometers. Such steps expand the scope of secondary school teaching so that it more nearly parallels industrial, college, and university practices. I n the cases cited both state and federal financial aid were helpful in acquiring the equipment. I n another case t h a t we know of, one high school teacher is seeking contributions of outdated equipment from university and industry contacts. If gifted students are encouraged to follow science and engineering as the result of guidance from competent teachers and use of adequate equipment facilities a t the secondary school level, we may find t h a t one part of the problem of training more scientists and engineers may be overcome.
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