The Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis, vol. 1, parts 1 and 2

The Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis, vol. 1, parts 1 and 2. - With Special Consideration of the Application of the Laws of Equilibrium and of the Modern Theories of Solution.

In venturing to add another book on Qualitative Chemical Analysis to the long list of publications on this subject, the author has been moved chiefly by the often expressed wish of students and friends to have his lectures on qualitative analysis rendered available for reference and for a wider circle of instruction. Parts I and II of the present book embody these lectures in the form to which they have developed in the course of the last sixteen years, since, in 1894, the teaching of analytical chemistry, along the lines followed, was first suggested by Ostwald's pioneer "Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen der Analytischen Chemie." The author believes that instruction in qualitative analysis, besides teaching analysis proper, should demand of the student a very distinct advance in the study of general chemistry, and should also, consciously, pave the way for work in quantitative analysis, if it is not, indeed, accompanied by work in that subject. The professional method of work, whether routine or research work of the academic or the industrial laboratory is involved, inevitably consists in first making an exhaustive study of the general chemical aspects of the subject under examination: it includes a thorough study of books of reference and of the original literature on the subject; and when the experimental work is finally undertaken, it is carried out with a critical, searching mind, which questions every observation made, every process used. The method of instruction in this book aims at developing these habits of the professional, productive chemist. For the reasons given, a rather thorough and somewhat critical study is first made (in Part I) of the fundamental general chemical principles which are most widely involved in analytical work. The applications of these principles to the subject matter of elementary qualitative analysis are then discussed (in Part II), in closest connection with the laboratory work covering the study of analytical reactions (in Part III). The material is presented, not as a finished subject, but as a growing one, with which the present generation of chemists is still busy, and which contains many important, unsolved problems of a fundamental character. Numerous references to standard works and to the current literature are given, of which those suitable for reading by the young student are specially designated. The obvious demand is thereby made on the student to aim to remain in touch with the growth of the science, after he has completed his studies under the guidance of an instructor. Finally, to arouse and develop the critical, questioning attitude of the professional chemist, referred to above, the subject matter of the laboratory work, given in Part III, is put very largely in the form of questions, which demand not only careful observation on the part of the student, but also a thoughtful interpretation of the observations made. In the experience of the author, although the majority of students attending his lectures had already acquired some knowledge of chemical and physical equilibrium, of the theories of solutions and of ionization and of their applications, the more exhaustive treatment of parts of these subjects and of related topics, to which a course in qualitative analysis lends itself, has been of particular benefit to them, bringing them into closer touch with the method of detailed study of a chemical topic, than the broader, more varied work of general chemistry courses usually does. Throughout the theoretical treatment of the subject, the attempt is made to prepare the student for a more general quantitative expression of chemical relations. For this reason, chemical and physical equilibrium constants are given and used, wherever it is possible. The author is aware that these "constants" have, in part, only a temporary standing; that more exact work will continually modify their numerical values and, probably, limit the field for their rigorous application. The latter facts can be impressed on the student and still the invaluable principle be inculcated in his mind, that chemistry is striving to express its relations, as far as possible, in mathematical terms, exactly as its sister science, physics, has long been doing. At the same time the treatment of physicochemical topics has been kept within the bounds set by the subject matter, and by the chemical maturity of the students addressed: it is elementary in form, and quantitative relations are used, in the main, only to elucidate qualitative facts. The rigorous development of the subjects presented and their elaboration from a purely physicochemical standpoint are left to advanced courses. It has been found that this method interests the better class of students in seeking such advanced courses. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 44986
Author: Stieglitz, Julius
Release Date: Feb 23, 2014
Format: eBook
Language: English