Page 18 - Modern Analytical Chemistry

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C Chapter 1

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Introduction

Chemistry is the study of matter, including its composition,
structure, physical properties, and reactivity. There are many
approaches to studying chemistry, but, for convenience, we
traditionally divide it into five fields: organic, inorganic, physical,
biochemical, and analytical. Although this division is historical and
arbitrary, as witnessed by the current interest in interdisciplinary areas
such as bioanalytical and organometallic chemistry, these five fields
remain the simplest division spanning the discipline of chemistry.
Training in each of these fields provides a unique perspective to the
study of chemistry. Undergraduate chemistry courses and textbooks
are more than a collection of facts; they are a kind of apprenticeship. In
keeping with this spirit, this text introduces the field of analytical
chemistry and the unique perspectives that analytical chemists bring to
the study of chemistry.

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