Editorial. Interdependence of the Sciences - Analytical Chemistry

Nov 24, 2003 - Interdependence of the Sciences. Lawrence Hallett. Anal. Chem. , 1962, 34 (13), pp 1677–1677. DOI: 10.1021/ac60193a600. Publication D...
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A NA LVTICA L CHEMISTRY

EDITORIAL

December 1962, Vol. 34, No. 13 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Director of Publications, Applied Journals, A C S , Richard L. Kenyon Director of Business Operations, Applied Journals, A C S , Joseph H. Kuney Executiue Assistant to the Director of Publications, Applied Journals, A C S , Rodney N. Hader Assistant to the Director of Publications for Editorial Deuelopment, Applied Journals, A C S , William Q. Hull Director of Editorial Research, Applied Journals, A C S , Robert F. Gould Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLE~T

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interdependence of the Sciences is the interdependence of the diverse scientific disciplines more obvious than in the field of analytical chemistry. The development of the apparatus and tools for instrumental analyses has required the know-how of physicists, electronics experts, and engineers. These scientists in turn have needed the analytical chemist. It is wise t o look a t what has happened in other fields of science. D r . William B. Heroy, Jr., geologist, in his remarks a t the dedication of the Blue Llountains Seismological Observatory, near Baker, Ore., in September discussed the revolutionary progress made in geology and earth science. As in so many fields of science, the total effort and progress made in the last generation is greater than the sum total of all previous 1Yor.k. I n the old days the geologist relied on scattered observations and crude base maps for reports. His principal tools mere a compass, a hammer, and hand lens. The technological progress in other scientific fields-physics, chemistry, electronics, etc.-has elevated geology from an abstract and inexact science to its present position. Today instruments and equipment are available for measuring the physical properties of rocks and minerals t o high degrees of accuracy. Aerial photography and photogrammetry make it possible to construct estremely reliable maps. Geophysical techniques make it possible t o learn much about parts of the earth's crust without using a drill. Chemical analyses make it possible not only to determine much of the geological history of an area, but also to deduce much of what lies below the surface. The seismological observatory dedicated required the technological achievements of many fields : physics, electronics, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and optics. Ground motion can now be measured to 1/100,000 the diameter of a human hair. Time is measured to better than one part in a million, or one second in two weeks; acceleration is measured in billionth of G's. The earth scientist is grateful for better tools with which t o do his job. The analytical chemist can also be grateful for the achievements in other fields which result in better tools for his job. NOWHERE

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