ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Analytical chemistry studies methods and instruments used to separate, identify, and quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification and quantification may constitute the entire analysis. Separation isolates analytes.  Qualitative analysis identifies analytes, while quantitative analysis determines the numerical amount or concentration.

Identification may be based on differences in color, odor, melting point, boiling point, radioactivity or reactivity. Classical quantitative analysis uses mass or volume changes to quantify amount. Instrumental methods may be used to separate samples using Chromatography, Electrophoresis or spectroscopy. Then qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed, often with the same instrument and may use light interaction, heat interaction electric or magnetic fields. Often the same instrument can separate, identify and quantify an analyte.

Analytical chemistry has broad applications to medical and pharmaceutical sciences. Modern medical practice is highly dependent on the laboratory analysis of body fluids, especially the blood. The disease manifestations are reflected in the composition of blood and other tissues. Hence, the demarcation of abnormal from normal constituents of the body is determined by using Analytical chemistry. Thus analytical chemistry is an essential component of curriculum for all categories of health professionals.

This Module is organized around the following major themes, each of them is also subdivided into different topics:

I. Concept of Solution, concentration and pH

II. Buffer solutions

III. Potentiometry

IV. Chromatographic Separations

V. Electrophoretic separations

VI. Optical Spectrophotometry or Colorimetry

VII. Operation of medical laboratory instruments