Analytical Chemistry: Definition, Methods, Applications, and Importance
Analytical Chemistry is an important branch of Chemistry that deals with the qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances. It introduces the methods and tools used to separate various substances and the application of these techniques to identify and quantify the amount of substances present for a given condition. Many classical and modern methods are used in Analytical Chemistry.
The definition, branches, methods, applications, and importance of Analytical Chemistry are discussed in the following sections.
Analytical Chemistry Definition
To define Analytical Chemistry, it can be stated that it is a branch of Chemistry that deals with the isolation, identification, and quantification of substances by various classical and modern methods and using scientific instruments. It involves the process of separation of chemical elements, radicals, or functional groups that are to be analysed. The identification of substances to be analysed is achieved by qualitative analysis methods. The determination of the quantity or concentration of substances present in a particular sample is achieved by quantitative analysis.
Now that we have covered ‘what is analytical chemistry?’, let us go through the branches of analytical chemistry.
Branches of Analytical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry can be studied in two sub-categories, namely qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, as discussed below briefly.
Qualitative Analysis
This branch of Analytical Chemistry deals with the determination of the quality of a substance in a given sample. It does not consider the concentration or quantity of the substances given. The qualitative analysis of substances can be carried out in several ways, like flame tests, chemical tests, etc. Mostly, these methods are used in salt analysis experiments. The qualitative analysis examples include observation of a colour change in a chemical reaction.
Quantitative Analysis
This branch of Analytical Chemistry deals with determining the absolute or relative quantities of substances present in a given sample of a chemical compound or mixture. For a given unknown mixture, the qualitative analysis tells us the chemical substances present in the sample, and the quantitative analysis tells us the exact amount of the identified substances present in the sample. Volumetric analysis and gravimetric analysis are two examples of quantitative analysis.
Analytical Chemistry: Methods
The methods of analysis of chemical substances are classified into two groups, classical and instrumental methods. Let us read about these methods briefly.
Classical Methods Used in Analytical Chemistry
There are various classical methods used for the analysis of chemical substances in a given compound or mixture.
The acid test for gold is one of the classical methods used in identifying the presence of gold in a given sample.
Gravimetric analysis is a classical method used to determine the amount of water in a compound by heating the compound and calculating the amount of water evaporated.
Kastle-Meyer test is used to identify the presence of haemoglobin in a given sample by the use of phenolphthalein as an indicator.
Titration or volumetric analysis is a classical method for quantitative analysis.
Flame tests are used to identify several elements and radicals as the colour of the flame changes.
Instrumental Methods Used in Analytical Chemistry
Calorimeters are instruments used to analyse the heat generated in a chemical reaction. The instrumental method used here is called calorimetry.
Electrochemical analysis is another instrumental method in which the given sample is placed in an electrochemical cell to measure the current flowing through the sample or the voltage across it.
Spectroscopy is an instrumental method used to determine the interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the atoms and molecules of the given sample.
Application of Analytical Chemistry
A few important applications of analytical chemistry are as follows.
Quantitative methods of Analytical chemistry are utilised to determine the concentrations of nutrients present in a given soil sample.
It is used in chromatography to classify blood samples of people.
Analytical Chemistry has applications in the medicines and drugs industry, where it is used to check the presence of adulterants.
The classical and instrumental Analytical Chemistry methods are used to determine the shelf-life of medicines.
Importance of Analytical Chemistry
The classical methods of Analytical Chemistry like titration, flame tests, use of indicators like methyl orange, phenolphthalein, etc., are included in the school-level academic curriculum. The instruments required for the analysis of chemical substances have high-cost constraints. However, these modern techniques and scientific instruments are widely used in industries like food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, etc.
Conclusion
Analytical Chemistry is one of the most interesting branches of Chemistry. The accuracy and precision of the instrumental and classical methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis are highly sought-after in many industries. With a good knowledge of the properties of elements, functional groups, chemical compounds, and analytical chemistry examples,- solving the various application-based questions from analytical chemistry becomes easy.
FAQs on What is Analytical Chemistry?
1. What is Analytical Chemistry all About?
Let us take a look at what Analytical Chemistry is all about.
Analytical Chemistry is the branch which is instructed in practically all schools and colleges. Be that as it may, its applications are made in drug industries, food factories, chemical industries, farming industries and in logical labs. The instruments utilized for this intention are very costly which one can't manage at home.
2. What is Analytical Chemistry Used for?
Some significant applications of this branch of Chemistry are as follows:
The timeframes of realistic usability of numerous medications are resolved with the assistance of Analytical Chemistry.
It is utilized to check for the presence of debasements in drugs.
Soil can be tested to check for proper concentrations of minerals and nutrients that are important for plant growth.
It is utilized during the time spent chromatography where the blood samples of an individual are ordered.
The concentration of the pesticide buildups and the impurities in a given food sample can likewise be resolved through Analytical Chemistry.
It additionally has numerous significant applications in medication, with its utilization in the testing of cholesterol and glucose levels in a blood sample.
Analytical Chemistry is a basic piece of forensic science, clinical analysis, and even natural analysis.
3. What are the Sub - Branches of Analytical Chemistry?
Two sub-branches go under Analytical Chemistry in particular quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis which can be clarified as follows. These two methods structure the foundation of numerous educational labs of Analytical Chemistry.
Quantitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis is a method of deciding the supreme or relative amount with respect to the concentration of at least one substance present in a sample or compound. For example, take a sample of an obscure strong substance. The physicists first use "qualitative" methods to recognize what kind of compound is available in the sample; at that point, he embraces the quantitative analysis methodology to decide the specific sum or the amount of the compound present in the sample. Some Quantitative analysis techniques incorporate Gravimetric Analysis and Volumetric analysis.
Qualitative Analysis
Quality methods the norm or the component of one substance. Consequently, Qualitative analysis method manages the assurance of the quality of a specific compound, independent of its amount or concentration. In more straightforward words, the qualitative analysis doesn't measure the measure of the substance yet measures the quality of that material. Perhaps the best example of this sort of method is the perception of a chemical reaction if there will be a colour adjustment.
The qualitative analysis method can be measured in various manners, for example, flame tests, chemical tests, and so on A few such tests are broadly utilized in the salt analysis (identification of the cation and anion of inorganic salts).
4. What is the importance of Analytical Chemistry?
Analytical Chemistry has multiple applications in our day-to-day lives. It is important and pivotal in industries like food, water, pharmaceuticals, construction, etc. It helps us to identify and determine the quality of our food, shelf-life of our medicines, water, and so on.
5. What is a flame test?
A flame test is a classical method of qualitative analysis of chemical compounds. It is used to identify the presence of metals or ions in a given sample.
6. What is titration in Analytical Chemistry?
Titration is a common analytical technique used in Chemistry. It is used to determine the quantity of a constituent element, radical or compound present in a sample. In this method of quantitative analysis, a known substance is added in fixed proportion to the given quantity of the sample. The observations of the reaction taking place between the given sample and the substance added in titration are studied to find the required analysis.
7. Why is phenolphthalein used in analytical chemistry?
Phenolphthalein is a commonly used indicator in titrations involving acids and bases. It is a weak acid, organic in nature. It turns pink in basic solutions and remains colourless in acidic solutions.