Analytical chemistry is a scientific discipline that develops and applies methods, instruments, and strategies to obtain information on the composition and nature of matter in space and time, as well as on the value of these measurements, i.e., their uncertainty, validation, and/or traceability to fundamental standards.
The Analytical Chemistry Division in the IUPAC catalyzes interactions between the scientific community and users of analytical methodology and data, and beneficiaries of analytical results, such as international organizations (IAEA, OECD, WHO), standard development bodies (ISO, ASTM), metrology organizations (BIPM, OIML) chemical societies, and society.
The interactions are catalyzed by taking input, such as literature data, information about sources, inconsistent nomenclature, newly developed or modified methods and techniques, and scientific misinformation, and performing harmonization of nomenclature, critical evaluation of data and methodology, formulation of guidelines for correct usage of data and methodology, and promotion of analytical chemistry to society in general. Areas of interest include: General aspects of analytical chemistry, separation methods, spectrochemical methods, electrochemical methods, nuclear chemistry methods, applications to human health and the environment.
Areas of Interest
General aspects of analytical chemistry, separation methods, spectrochemical methods, electrochemical methods, nuclear chemistry methods, applications to human health and the environment.
Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference:
The goal of the Analytical Chemistry Division is the promotion of the principal branches of analytical chemistry. In many instances this is achieved in collaboration with other Divisions.
This includes the critical and comparative evaluation of established and emerging analytical methods, to enable analytical chemists to choose those best suited for specific applications.
These activities include:
- harmonisation and proposal of rules for interlaboratory comparisons,
- recommendations for sample collection, preparation, storage and handling,
- the compilation of data used in analytical chemistry and their critical evaluation,
- the definition of recommended methods and proper application of QC and QA procedures.
The Division encourages interactions between the basic and applied disciplines. Its work is currently focused on analytical methods and their applications, as follows:
1. General aspects of analytical chemistry. This includes all matters relating to terminology in analytical chemistry, chemometrics, figures of merit, quality assurance, and fundamental data including those for solubility and chemical equilibria.
2. Separation methods. This includes the development of critical guidelines, definition of terms, and recommendations for the operation of analytical separation methods.
3. Spectrochemical methods. This includes the critical assessment of spectrochemical methods of analysis involving electromagnetic radiation and compilation of fundamental data.
4. Mass spectrometric methods for elemental and molecular analysis.
5. Electrochemical methods. This includes the critical assessment of electroanalytical methods. Recommendations for standardisation and measurement procedures, development of critical guidelines, compilation of essential data and assessment of terminology are considered.
6. Nuclear chemistry methods. This includes analytical methods based on the measurement of isotopes and isotope ratios, and radiochemical methods and their applications.
7. Chemical metrology for better understanding fundamental aspects of chemical measurements, calibration, concepts of measurement traceability and comparability.
8. Bioanalytical Methods. This covers the identification, characterization, quantification, and monitoring of biomolecules together with the analysis and investigation of biomacromolecules within nucleic acids analysis, proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics, lipidomics, and others.
Subcommittees and Commissions
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2016
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Busan, Korea, 2015 (pdf – 615kb)
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Pecs, Hungary, 2014 (pdf – 519kb)
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, 2013 (pdf – 155kb)
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Antwerp, Belgium, 2012 (pdf – 214kb)
- Minutes of the Division Committee meeting, Aveiro, Portugal, 8 – 9 February 2010 (pdf – 212kb) and Annexes (zip file – 2.81mb)
- Minutes of the Division V Executive Officers’ Meeting, Aveiro, Portugal, 7 February 2010 (pdf – 212kb)
- Report 2017 (prepared for Bureau) by Prof. Jan Labuda (pdf – 73kb)
- Report 2016 (prepared for Bureau in Montreal) by Prof. Jan Labuda (pdf – 136kb)
- Report 2014-2015 (prepared for Council in Busan) by Prof. Brynn Hibbert (pdf – 613kb)
- Report to Council 2008 – 2009 (pdf – 158kb)
‘TEAMWORK’ the Analytical Chemistry Division Newsletter
- Teamwork 2017 (pdf – 710kb)
- Teamwork 2015 (pdf – 897kb)
- Teamwork 2013 (pdf – 613kb)
- Teamwork 2012 (pdf – 253kb)
- Teamwork 2009 (pdf – 110kb)
- Teamwork 2008 (pdf – 93kb)
- Teamwork 2007 (pdf – 60kb)
- Teamwork 2006 (pdf – 49kb)
- Teamwork 2005 Dec (pdf – 49kb)
- Teamwork 2005 Jul (pdf – 53kb)
- Teamwork 2004 Nov (pdf – 47kb)
- Teamwork 2004 Jul (pdf – 51kb)
- Teamwork 2004 Feb (pdf – 62kb)
- Teamwork 2003 Nov (pdf – 77kb)
- Teamwork 2003 Jul (pdf – 413kb)
- Teamwork 2003 Feb (pdf – 65kb)
- Teamwork 2002 Oct (pdf – 63kb)
- Teamwork 2002 Jul (pdf – 52kb)
- Teamwork 2002 March (pdf – 41kb)
Moore, D., “Analytical Chemistry – A Discipline at the Heart of IUPAC,” Chemistry International, Vol. 24, No. 4, p. 17, July 2002. (PDF)