Editors' Column
Writing the Technical Paper T h e progress of modern science depends on the dissemination of information, and the research paper is the vehicle of communication. Writing is not an interruption of the research process, but an integral part of t h a t process. A number of publications are available to smooth the road to manuscript preparation and submission. "How to Write and Publish a Scientific P a p e r " by Robert A. Day (ISI Press: Philadelphia, 1979) is a good cookbook on scientific writing. Although Day's field is microbiology, the principles discussed in this book apply to any of the scientific disciplines, including analytical chemistry. Day begins by defining the scientific paper and delineating the tests of valid publication. He points out that a scientific paper is a published report describing the results of original re-
search, but t h a t theses and conference reports do not usually meet the test of valid publication. Many of the criteria he mentions are valuable, not only for the writer, but also for the reviewer of technical papers. It is essential t h a t reviewers recognize the standards defining an acceptable primary scientific publication, including the concepts of first disclosure and experimental repeatability. Day discusses the parts of the technical paper one by one: title, abstract, introduction, experimental, results, discussion, and literature cited. He also gives the reader valuable advice concerning tables and illustrations, how to type the manuscript, how to deal with editors, how to deal with printers, how to order reprints, and information on correct English. In addition, there are chapters on writing re-
view papers, conference reports, and theses. Day's book contains helpful hints gleaned from the author's many years of experience in scientific publishing. He recommends, for instance, identifying the first reference to a table or illustration in the text margin. This provides a flag to the printer to break the text at t h a t point to insert the table. He elucidates the tricky tense conventions, which require the use of present and past tense in specific instances which are by no means obvious. Day also admonishes the reader to begin writing the paper while the research is still in progress. "This makes the writing easier because everything is fresh in mind," Day writes. "Furthermore, the writing process itself is likely to point to inconsistencies in the
Announcing a New GemrationjrfaTLC and Gel Scanner ""^ Award Winning CS-910 Offers Excellent Capabilities!
What's new about CS-910? It is the first scanner to combine the quantitative accuracy of TLC densitometry with the high resolution of gel scanning. 1. * DUAL-WAVELENGTH METHOD eliminates baseline fluctuations caused by local irregularities in thin-layers or gels. 2. «ZIG-ZAG SCANNING TECHNIQUE eliminates errors caused by the irregular shape of the developed spots. 3. «Unique WORKING CURVE LINEARIZER provides excellent linearity over a wide density range—eliminates errors resulting from different size spots. 4. «Built-in BACKGROUND CORRECTOR minimizes the effects of contamination on TLC plates. 5. Extremely sensitive FLUOROMETRY MODE permits precise quantitation of ultra-micro content samples. 6. TRANSMISSION OR REFLECTION METHOD can be easily selected.
SHIMADZU SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC. CIRCLE
« U . S . PATENT 4 , 0 1 3 , 3 6 4 and 3 , 9 9 4 , 5 8 7 Contact us today for detailed information on the new CS-910 scanner.Spectrophotometers, Spectrofluorophotometers or Gas Chromatographs. SHIMADZU SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC. 9147 Red Branch Road, Columbia, Md. 21045, U S A . Phone: (301)997-1227 Telex: 87959 SHIMADZU (EUROPA) GmbH 4000 DUsseldorf 1, Johannes Weyer Str. 1 F.R. Germany Phone: (0211)314061 Telex: 08586839 SHIMADZU CORPORATION 1, Nishinokyo-Kuwabaracho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604, Japan Telex: 05422-166
192 O N READER SERVICE
1136 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 51, NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 1979
CARD
results or perhaps to suggest inter esting sidelines t h a t might be fol lowed." "How to Write and Publish a Scien tific P a p e r " may be ordered from ISI Press, 325 Chestnut Street, Philadel phia, Pa. 19106. T h e price is $8.95 for the paperback and $15.00 for the hardcover edition. ISI Press will pay postage if payment is enclosed with the order. More specific information for chem ists may be found in "Handbook for Authors of Papers in American Chem ical Society Publications", American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C., 1978. This handbook is a guide to writing for ACS books and journals, defining the sections of the scientific paper, detailing t h e physical composi tion of the manuscript, and describing the editorial process. It explains all the rules and conventions for num bers, mathematical expressions, ab breviations, symbols, and units. There is detailed information on preparation of tables, graphs, and illustrations for ACS publications. Proofreaders' marks are explained, and there are many valuable tables on topics such as SI units, multiplicative prefixes, and symbols for physicochemical quantities. T h e "Handbook for Authors" is available from Special Issues Sales, American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, at $3.75 (paperback) or $7.50 (hard cover). Most specific to t h e needs of au thors submitting papers to ANALYTI CAL C H E M I S T R Y are t h e " M a n u s c r i p t
Requirements,", "Guide for Use of T e r m s in Reporting Data in ANALYT ICAL C H E M I S T R Y " , "Spectrometry Nomenclature", and " S I Units", all of which are published annually at the end of the technical section of t h e J a n u a r y issue. A free copy of these documents may also be obtained by sending a letter to A N A L Y T I C A L C H E M I S T R Y , 1155 16th Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036. Here you will find specific information on t h e scope of the J O U R N A L , and on the prepara
tion of manuscripts for submission. T h e words analysis, determination, identification, and assay are defined and contrasted. There is a review of statistics as it applies to JOURNAL re quirements, and a glossary of spec trometry definitions. T h e ACS " H a n d b o o k " lists many other books that may be consulted. Reference to this literature should make t h e writing of technical papers a more straightforward, if not entirely painless, process. Stuart Borman
Derivations Agents The following are some of the derivatizing agents available from PCR stock. 34130-5 N,0-Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide(BSA) 25g -$40.00; 100g-:M 20.00 34131-3 N,0-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide(BSTFA) 25g $52.00 27110-6 Bromomethyldimethylchlorosilane 25g $23.25; 100g $80.00 1Og- $40.00 ; 5 0 g - :$170.00 11192-2 ieri-Butyldimethylchlorosilane 50g $ 20.00 ;250g- $90.00 27090-0 Chloromethyldimethylchlorosilane 34040-6 N,N-Diethylaminotrimethylsilane 25g-$15.00;1O0g- $50.00 1 qt. $15.85; 1 gal.- $32.90 27220-3 Dimethyldichlorosilane 25g $30.00; 100g- $90.00 13100-3 Heptafluorobutyric Anhydride 5g $15.00; 25g- $60.00 18681-7 N-Heptafluorobutyry I imidazole 34020-8 Hexamethyldisilazane 100g $12.00; 500g $25.00 5g-$16.00;25g--$73.00 13670-5 Pentafluorobenzoyl Chloride 11740-8 Pentafluorobenzyl Bromide 5g-$22.50;25g--$80.00 25g $37.50; 50g--$62.50 16230-5 1 H,1 H-Pentafluoropropanol-1 13580-6 Pentafluoropropionic Anhydride 2 5 g - $ 5 0 . 0 0 ; 1 0 0 g - $150.00 25g-$21.00;100g--$65.00 34090-1 1,1,3,3-Tetramethyldisilazane 100g- $12,00; 500g $54.00 13200-1 Trifluoroacetic Anhydride 25g-$15.00;100g- -$55.00 27650-1 Trimethylbromosilane l p t . - $ 1 1 . 0 0 ; 1 qt. $15.00 27490-2 Trimethylchlorosilane • 10s $8.00; 50g--$21.25 34150-3 N-Trimethylsilylimidazole
PCR RESEARCH CHEMICALS, INC. P.O. BOX 1778 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32602 (904)376-7522
ΒΞΒ
ORGANIC CHEMICALS DIVISION. SCtvl CORPORATION CIRCLE 165 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Everything you need for LC. Rainin's 1979-80 liquid chromatography catalog is as easy to use as it is comprehensive. Within -_. its 100 pages you'll find detailed information and prices on: • Columns/packings • high pressure components · low pressure components • solvents/filters/glass ware · syringes/pipettes • pumps · detectors/ recorders · valves/fittings • ovens/baths · plus a helpful applications section. For your free copy, call 1-800-225-5392 or contact
RAΙΝIN
Mack Road · Woburn, MA 01801
CIRCLE 179 ON READER SERVICE CARD
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 5 1 , NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 1979 · 1137 A
