ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY: THEORY AND PRACTICE, 3E

Although analytical chemistry has played a decisive role in establishing chemistry as a quantitative experimental science it was rather late that it was recognised as an independent discipline. Perhaps this is the reason that students regard analytical chemistry merely as a collection of empirical instructions for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis, The aim of the present work is to impress upon the fact that analytical chemistry is a distinct subject having its own objectives, methodology and scope. It has been noticed that while carrying out chemical analysis a majority of students follow instructions mechanically without understanding the theoretical considerations that underlie various anal procedures. Attempts have, therefore, been made, as far as possible, to explain the theory behind different steps involved in various analytical schemes In preparing this book the major emphasis has been on clear and simple presentation in a language that is readily understandable by an average student This can obviously result in some repetition and at places the language may riot be refined. But the have been overlooked in favour of easy and intelligible presentation. It is a well accepted view that in scientific descriptions the clarity and simplicity should overweigh the beauty of the language. Most of the biology group students find the mathematical treatment rather difficult. For the benefit of such students attempt has been made to provide simplified treatment by splitting up a derivation into several simple steps to make it intelligible to students who have had no formal training in mathematics. The material of the book is mainly concerned with the topics mentioned in the undergraduate syllabi of various Universities. However, at appropriate places some information has been provided which may be useful to post-graduate students as well. Apart from discussing the theoretical aspects of various analytical procedures, a number of experiments have been descr