Anal Bioanal Chem (2015) 407:8943–8944 DOI 10.1007/s00216-015-9059-6

BOOKS AND SOFTWARE IN REVIEW

Daniel C. Harris: Quantitative chemical analysis, 9th ed. José A. C. Broekaert 1

Published online: 24 October 2015 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Bibliography Quantitative chemical analysis, 9th ed. Daniel C. Harris W.H. Freeman and Company, New York ISBN: 978-1-4641-3538-5 Hardcover, 928 pages May 29, 2015, $233.99

Book’s topic Analytical chemistry as the basic science for chemical analysis is an interdisciplinary science making use of chemical, physical, and biological principles for the determination of the concentrations of the elements and their compounds in a high diversity of materials and, therefore, is an essential part of the chemistry curriculum from the basic to the advanced level. It must treat topics from the principles of the methods to problem solving and, accordingly, can only be learned together with other basic disciplines but also with an open eye for the fields of science and technology where problems have to be solved. A treatise on analytical chemistry, therefore, must start from the different parts of the analytical process over the principles of the methods to the acquisition of data, including measurement and calibration techniques as well as figures of merit and data treatment. This assembly of

* José A. C. Broekaert [email protected] 1

Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany

topics is well treated in the book BQuantitative chemical analysis^ in its 9th edition by Harris, which already with its earlier editions attracted the attention of the analytical chemistry community.

Contents The entire material in the book is treated in 28 chapters. The text starts with the analytical process itself, illustrated by well-selected examples. Then the nature of chemical measurements is well explained, and information on basic tools in chemical analysis such as burettes, balances, and volumetric flasks is brought out. The experimental errors, the statistics required in chemical analysis, as well as procedures for quality assurance and calibration are brought together with nicely selected examples in an easily understandable text. After these basic chapters, a treatment of the chemical equilibrium as a base for all analytical procedures involving chemical reactions is included. The theory of titrations is treated in the next chapter. Here both the instrumentation and the calculation of titration curves are discussed. In a chapter on activity and equilibrium, the theory on activity, activity coefficients, and hydrolysis is brought out, which one needs for the treatment of monoprotic and polyprotic acid–base equilibria. This allows an in-depth treatment of acid–base titrations, including the detection of the end point. Complexometric titrations with EDTA follow, and in a following short chapter advanced topics in equilibrium such as the dependence of the solubility on the pH are treated. The fundamentals of electrochemistry, including the Faraday laws, the Nernst equation, and the theory of galvanic cells are brought out in a further chapter, which allows it to treat potentiometry, potentiometric titrations, and electroanalytical techniques, such as electrogravimetry, coulometry, and polarography. A number of chapters then deal with spectroscopic methods. This part starts with a chapter on the fundamentals

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of spectrophotometry, applications of spectrophotometry, and the instrumentation required. In the chapter on atomic spectrometry, the theory and instrumentation of atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (both atomic emission and mass spectrometry) is brought out, but the methods for solids analysis such as spark and glow discharge spectrometry are missing. Also X-ray spectrometry is discussed here with respect to its basics and some applications, however, without mentioning new developments such as synchrotron based work and total reflection X-ray spectrometry as well as microprobe techniques. In the chapter on mass spectrometry, figures of merit such as resolution and spectrometer design as well as interfaces to chromatography are well discussed. After the instrumental detection methods, the field of separations is well treated in the following chapters. This starts with the classic separations, such as extractions, and the basics of chromatography. A chapter on gas chromatography well informs on the theory of separations on columns and the instrumentation, including sampling and detection methods. Further liquid chromatography, including modern column materials, injection techniques, and suitable detection methods, is treated. Owing to its actual interest, a separate chapter on ion exchange chromatography and electrophoretic techniques is justified. The chapter on gravimetry comes relatively late in the book, as parts of it have to be used earlier and the combination with combustion analysis is somewhat unexpected. The last chapter deals with sample preparation, going from sampling, grinding of solid samples, sample dissolution, to solid phase extraction. To conclude, the work covers the complete field of chemical analysis. Comparison with the existing literature This book is a great achievement in its completeness and illustration with exam-

J.A.C. Broekaert

ples for the field of analytical chemistry. It stands together with other standard works, such as the textbook of Skoog D.A. et al.: Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry and Kellner R. et al.: Eurocurriculum on Analytical Chemistry, of which several regularly upgraded editions were published, which treat the field of analytical chemistry in a complete way and with a wealth of examples of applications and problems as well. Critical assessment This book has an excellent coverage of analytical chemistry, but of course cannot include all developments at the cutting edge, such as new probe techniques, labon-the-chip technology, a detailed treatise of chemometrics, a.s.o. without increasing the volume of the work beyond the critical size. To all chapters relevant standard works have been cited, whereas the selection of individual publications in the field certainly can be discussed. The work contains a very usable index to the topics covered. Readership recommendation This book is very suitable as a textbook for university students in chemistry. It is an excellent reference source for the analytical chemistry courses at the introductory as well as at the advanced level. It is of course not a work advisable as a basis for starting Ph.D. oriented research in the specialized topics of analytical chemistry. Summary This book is an up to date introduction to the whole field of analytical chemistry, which will be well accepted by many colleagues teaching in the field. It brings the theory, the methods, and the strategies of analytical chemistry in a very well balanced way and with a broad coverage.