Education in Analytical Chemistry

Abstract

An inventory and analysis of the definitions and descriptions of Analytical Chemistry in the literature reveals three well distinguishable non-hierarchical areas in Analytical Chemistry. These areas reflect the production of analytical information, the analytical research and development and the organizational aspects in the analytical laboratory. An inventory of the tasks to be performed in the analytical laboratory can be grouped into three categories corresponding with those three areas. It can be observed that education and training in Analytical Chemistry usually covers only the first and second area. In education little or no attention is paid to the third, organizational level; probably as a result of the until recently lacking literature about subjects covering these aspects. However, the number of papers in analytical literature dealing with these aspects is increasing. Consequently in future these aspects have to be dealt with in analytical education and training. Proposals are given about an educational scheme whereby three streams, corresponding with the three areas, can be distinguished.