Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the study, analysis and description of the chemical composition and structure of matter using laboratory techniques and processes.
Analytical chemistry separates, identifies, measures and studies the components of matter. It also studies, develops and improves sample analysis tools and methods.
There are many applications of analytical chemistry in everyday life.
In this blog, we will explore the importance of analytical chemistry in our daily life.
Why is Analytical Chemistry So Important in Our Daily Life?
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Analytical Chemistry: An Overview
Analytical chemistry is a discipline that studies the chemical composition of matter . It focuses on understanding the correlation between the physical properties of matter and its chemical composition.
Analytical chemistry is known as one of the fields of chemistry responsible for describing the composition of substances, whether qualitatively or quantitatively. This field of study has been fundamental to scientific progress, as it allows us to understand how the different materials that surround us are formed.
Analytical chemistry is not a separate branch of chemistry, but rather the application of chemical knowledge. This field of study is not limited to performing a routine analysis on a sample, but rather works to improve existing analytical methods and expand the scope of current analytical methods to include new types of samples. It also works on developing new analytical methods to measure many chemical phenomena.
Many people consider the Department of Analytical Chemistry to be a simple department and it has no role in life. This belief is unfortunately wrong and incorrect, because the importance of Analytical Chemistry lies in it being a basic and necessary tool in all the different branches of science, including biology, physics, and the environment.
Analytical Chemistry has enhanced its employment in several vital fields such as the industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical and scientific research fields.
Analytical chemistry plays an important role in many sciences, as analytical technology is used to study living materials and metabolic processes, and doctors cannot diagnose diseases without relying on the results of the necessary analyses for that.
Analytical chemistry has been around for a long time, and it has been needed largely because chemists need to study compounds. Chemists such as Justus von Liebig, Robert Bunsen, and Gustav Kirchoff developed methods for identifying and separating chemical compounds, so Liebig developed a system for identifying chemical elements. He also discovered that some functional groups, such as aldehydes, tend to react in similar ways. Bunsen and Kirchhoff also worked on developing a tool that analyzes chemical compounds and determines their constituent elements.
Analytical chemistry has many applied methods in the pharmaceutical industries, including Chromatography, Titrations and Spectrometry. Each of them has its own field of application and advantages depending on the nature of the sample and the objectives of the analysis.
Let us better understand the importance of analytical chemistry in our daily life.
The Importance of Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is essential in various aspects of our daily lives, from ensuring the safety of the products we use to improving healthcare outcomes and protecting the environment.
Analytical chemistry is involved in many scientific, medical, and industrial fields, including the following:
- Know the concentration of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood.
- Help diagnose thyroid disease through quantitative analysis of calcium ions (Ca) in the blood.
- Know the protein content and nutritional value through quantitative analysis of nitrogen in foods.
- Analyze steel during its production process from the elements carbon, nickel, and chromium, in order to determine its required specifications of hardness, corrosion resistance, and other specifications.
- Analyze the mercaptan content of domestic gas supplies, to warn of dangerous leaks.
Applications of Analytical Chemistry in Daily Life
Analytical chemistry has multiple applications in daily life, playing a fundamental role in various sectors, including:
Industrial sector:
One of the most important sectors in which analytical chemistry is used is the industrial sector, where it is used to perform quality controls on raw materials and products developed in industries. This ensures that products meet established quality standards, guaranteeing their effectiveness and safety.
Medicine and healthcare:
In the field of medicine and healthcare , analytical chemistry is essential for detecting and diagnosing different diseases and health problems. Through analytical techniques, biological samples such as blood, urine or tissues are analyzed in order to determine the presence of chemical substances or biomarkers that may indicate the presence of a disease. This allows health professionals to make better decisions when treating patients.
Analytical chemistry is used in the pharmaceutical industry in many applications, most notably:
- Ensuring the quality, efficiency and safety of the previously known and newly developed pharmaceutical products.
- Analytical chemistry is considered an important element in the pharmaceutical industries, in all stages of manufacturing, from pre-production, from analyzes based on the raw material that makes up the drug, to the stage during and after production to ensure the compositions of manufactured drugs and their compliance with pharmaceutical specifications, to the post-sales phase and analytical studies of the stability of the drug under various special conditions.
- Knowing the effective drug components, which are specified within certain proportions.
- Knowing the additional drug components, such as preservatives, taste and color enhancers, and analysis of drug specifications.
- Analyzing impurities, if any, and analysis of materials used in manufacturing, such as water, etc.
- Analyzing the drug’s disintegration time, the time required for its digestion, and analysis of its acidity (PH) and other analyses.
Commercial sector:
Analytical chemistry is also used in establishments and shops, especially in sectors such as food and cosmetics. Chemical analysis is used to verify the authenticity, purity and safety of products sold. This is especially crucial to ensure the quality of the food we consume and the products we use on our skin and body.
Analytical chemistry is used in food testing to determine nutritional content, detect contaminants, and ensure quality.
Scientific research:
Analytical chemistry is also widely used in scientific research. Through different analytical methods, the chemical properties of substances can be studied and understood, which contributes to the advancement of science. For example, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, which are analytical techniques used in organic chemistry, have allowed the characterization of complex molecules and the development of new compounds.
Environmental sciences:
Analytical Chemistry plays a very important role in environmental sciences as it provides information on the processes that take place in the environment, as well as analysis methods for the control of pollutants.
Analytical chemistry studies and uses tools and methods to separate, identify, and measure matter. The general goal of analytical research is to describe the sources, dynamics and fate of pollutants (metals and/or organic compounds) in the environment, with an emphasis on their impact on human health and the environment.
Read Here: The Importance of Green Chemistry
Conclusion:
Analytical chemistry plays an important role in daily life through its applications in various fields, such as industry, medicine and commerce. This branch of chemistry helps us to ensure the quality and safety of the products we use, thus contributing to our well-being and daily health.
The importance of analytical chemistry lies in its ability to analyze and understand the chemical composition of materials, which is essential in various fields and sectors.
Read Also: Importance of Organic Chemistry in Our Life