Text A What Analytical Chemists Do
Analytical chemistry is concerned with the chemical characterization of matter and the answers to two important questions: what is it (qualitative) and how much is it (quantitative). Chemicals make up everything we use or consume, and knowledge of the chemical composition of many substances important in our daily lives. Analytical chemistry plays an important role in nearly all aspects of chemistry, for example, agricultural, clinical, environmental, forensic, manufacturing, metallurgical, and pharmaceutical chemistry. The nitrogen content of a fertilizer determines its value. Foods must be analyzed for contaminants (e.g., pesticide residues) and for essential nutrients (e.g. vitamin content). The air in cities must be analyzed for carbon monoxide. Blood glucose must be monitored in diabetics (and, in fact, most diseases are diagnosed by chemical analysis). The presence of trace elements from gun powder on a murder defendant’s hand will prove a gun was fired. The quality of manufactured products often depends on proper chemical proportions, and measurement of the constituents is a necessary part of quality control. The carbon of steel will determine its quality. The purity of drugs will determine their efficacy.
1、qualitative ['kwɔlitətiv, -tei-] adj.定性的；质的，性质上的
2、quantitative ['kwɔntitətiv, -tei-] adj. 定量的；量的，数量的
3、consume [kən'sju:m]vt.消耗，消费；使…著迷；挥霍
vi. 耗尽，毁灭；耗尽生命
4、analytical [,ænə'litik,-kəl] adj.分析的；解析的；善于分析的
5、forensic[fɔ'rensik] adj.辩论的；法院的；适于法庭的
6、metallurgical [,melə'lə:dʒik,-kəl] adj.冶金学的；冶金的
7、nitrogen ['naitrədʒən] n. [化]氮
8、contaminant [kən'tæminənt] n.污染物；致污物
9、pesticide residues ['pestisaid] ['rezɪ,du:, -,dju:]杀虫剂残留
10、carbon monoxide [无化] 一氧化碳
11、glucose ['ɡlu:kəus]n.葡萄糖；葡糖（等于dextrose）
12、diabetic [,daiə'betik] adj.糖尿病的，患糖尿病的n.糖尿病患者
13、defendant [di'fendənt] adj.为自己辩护的；辩护的n.被告
14、constituent [kən'stitjuənt]n.成分；选民；委托adj.构成的；选举的
分析化学研究物质的化学成分，并且要解决两个问题：样品里有什么化学物质（定性），化学物质的量有多少（定量）。在我们的日常生活中，化学物质无处不在，因而了解各种物质的化学成分非常重要。分析化学对于化学的各个领域的应用，例如化学在农业、临床医学、法医学、制造业、冶金和药学领域的用，都非常重要。化肥的氮含量决定其效价。对于食品，要检查其是否被污染（例如农残），并测定其中必需营养物质（例如维生素）的含量。而一氧化碳含量是城市空气质量的重要指标。对于糖尿病患者（事实上许多疾病的诊断要依靠化验）监测血糖含量非常重要。如果通过分析化验发现谋杀嫌犯手上有火药残留的痕迹，则可以证明他（她）开过枪。产品质量的好坏往往其中各种化学成分的比例是否适当密切相关，因而测定产品中各种化学成分的比例是产品质控必不可少的一项工作。钢铁的碳含量多少决定其质量的优劣。药物的纯度影响其疗效。
What is Analytical Science?
The above description of analytical chemistry provides an overview of the discipline of analytical chemistry. There have been various attempts to more specifically define the discipline. The late C harles N. Reilley said: “Analytical chemistry is what analytical chemists do.” The discipline has expanded beyond the bounds of just chemistry, and many have advocated using the name analytical science to describe the field. This term is used in a National Science Foundation report from workshops on “Curricular Developments in the Analytical Science.” Even this term falls short of recognition of the role of instrumentation development and application. One suggestion is that we use the term analytical science and technology.
1、advocate ['ædvəkeit, 'ædvəkət]vt.提倡，主张，拥护n.提倡者；支持者；律师
