ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Editor: H E R B E R T A. LAITINEN
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The Westheimer Report: Where Is Analytical Chemistry? HE COXMITTEE
for the Survey of Chemistry of the NhS-NRC, un-
T der the chairmanship of Professor Frank 13. Westheimer, has pub-
lished an important report "Chemistry : Opportunities and Xeeds.” This report, prepared with substantial financial support from the ACS will, it is hoped, pay handsome dividends to the chemical profession through its influence on the allocation of funds for basic research. It is :tppropriate t o examine several features of this report from the viewpoint of the analytical chemist. To the question ‘‘Where is Analytical Chemistry?” in the report, the buperficial answer is that, like the other traditional branches, analytical chemistry is purposely excluded to emphasize the fundamental subdivisions of chemistry. Certainly to present a solid and well-reasoned case for the whole science, it was diploinatic, if not down-right essential, to avoid internal bickering as to the relative importance of the various branches of chemistry. Accordingly, study panels were set up along functional lines, t o include Structure, Physical Properties and Characterization; Synthesis ; Chemical Dynamics ; Chemistry of Condensed States ; Theoretical Chemistry ; Suclear Chemistry, and several others concerned more with the relationship of chemistry to other disciplines than to basic research in chemistry itself. If, now, vie examine the panel reports, we find analytical chemistry represented in practically all of them, a t least by inference, and under various disguises such as “Characterization of Small Amounts,” “Physical Properties of Molecules,” and “Instrumentation for Basic Research in Chemistry.” Notable gaps, however, exist with respect to basic research in instrumentation (see D r . 1Iuller’s column, page 129 A) and separation methods. Analytical chemists might well raise the question, “If synthesis is a functional branch of chemistry, why not analysis?” Analytical chemistry differs from the other “traditional” branches of chemistry in indeed being functional, and in using the tools of mathematics, physics, and chemistry in attacking problems involving organic, inorganic, and biological systems. It suffers, however, from its very ubiquity. Practically every experimental research problem in chemistry involves soiiie aspect of analysis and practically every research chemist, ipso f a c t o , is an expert in some narrow fragment of analysis. It might, therefore, appear reasonable to suppose that basic research in analytical chemistry should somehow be covered automatically by a consideration of the various experimental branches of chemistry. The inadequacies noted above might have been avoided by pulling together the various aspects of analysis under a panel with a title such as “Separation, Characterization, and Measurement” which would have served to emphasize its functional coherence while still avoiding the traditional terminology.
Aduertising Management
REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (for Branch Offices, see page 166 A)
For submission of manuscripts, see page 2 A . VOL. 38, NO. 3, MARCH 1966
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