analytical - American Chemical Society

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analytical chemistry

O c t o b e r 1974, Vol. 46, N o . 12 Editor: H E R B E R T A. L A I T I N E N EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4600 Teletype: 710-8220151 M a n a g i n g E d i t o r : Virginia E. Stewart Associate E d i t o r : Josephine M . Petruzzi Assistant Editor: Andrew A. Husovsky E d i t o r i a l A s s i s t a n t : Linda A. Ferragut GRAPHICS AND PRODUCTION STAFF

M a n a g e r : Leroy L. Corcoran Associate M a n a g e r : Charlotte C. Sayre Art Director: Norman W. Favin A r t i s t : Linda McKnight E d i t o r i a l A s s i s t a n t : Nancy J. Oddenino EDITORIAL PROCESSING DEPARTMENT, EASTON, P A .

Associate E d i t o r : Elizabeth R. Rufe ADVISORY BOARD: Allen J. Bard, Fred Baumann, David F. Boltz, E . G. Brame, Jr., Warren B . Crummett, M . A. Evenson, Henry M. Fales, A. F . Findeis, Kenneth W. Gardiner, Jack M . Gill, Jeanette G. Grasselli, R. S. Juvet, Jr., Theodore Kuwana, Oscar Menis, Harold F. Walton INSTRUMENTATION

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PANEL:

Jonathan W. Amy, Stanley R. Crouch, Richard A. Durst, J. J. Kirkland, Ronald H. Laessig, Marvin Margoshes, Harold M . McNair, David Seligson, Howard J. Sloane

C o n t r i b u t i n g E d i t o r : Claude A. Lucchesi Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Εvanston, Ill. 60201 Published by the A M E R I C A N C H E M I C A L SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N . W. Washington. D.C. 20036 Books a n d J o u r n a l s Division John Κ Crum D i r e c t o r Ruth Reynard A s s i s t a n t to t h e D i r e c t o r Charles R. Bertsch H e a d , E d i t o r i a l Processing D e p a r t m e n t D. H. Michael Bowen H e a d , J o u r n a l s Department Bacil Guiley H e a d , G r a p h i c s a n d Production Department Seldon W. Terrant H e a d , R e s e a r c h a n d Development D e p a r t m e n t

Analytical Chemistry and Energy Related Research It is heartening to see that analytical sciences are receiving specific recognition as plans go forward to implement research programs related to the nation's energy needs. For example, one of the fifteen areas defined as directly related to chemistry in the supplemental energy program of the National Science Foun­ dation [C&EN, May 20, 1974, ρ 14] is named Chemical Analy­ sis. Several others, such as Instrumentation, Physical and Chemical Separations, and Solid Surfaces have a strong analyti­ cal slant, and most of the others will involve analytical research although to a lesser extent. Similarly, the new NSF-RANN pro­ gram "Environmental Effects of Energy" places a high priority on improving the reliability of analytical measurements. During the summer and fall of 1974, the Chemical Section of the National Science Foundation is sponsoring a series of work­ shop conferences ( A N A L . C H E M . , Sept. 1974, ρ 881 A) designed to delineate energy-related problem areas to which chemical re­ search could profitably be addressed. An obvious problem here is that, given a sufficiently long time base, practically all funda­ mental research in chemistry could be envisioned as having at least a tenuous connection with energy programs. But Congress, in funding such research, will surely look for direct and shortrange applicability. There is therefore a serious danger that sci­ entists will appear to promise more than they can deliver, and Congress will react in two or three years by deciding that basic research is not worth the cost. It is therefore of utmost impor­ tance that any supplemental appropriations for this purpose be channeled to projects showing clear and unmistakable connec­ tions to energy-related programs. Analytical research, by its very nature, will have relatively little difficulty in showing such connections. A greater problem appears to be presented by the urgency of timing, to perfect the necessary analytical methodol­ ogy before a great deal of effort is wasted through the use of in­ adequate or erroneous measurements.

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