In the past, the analysis of materials containing several elements presented unique problems for analytical chemists, so a sequence of wet chemical qualitative tests were performed to ensure each element in a sample was detected. Quantitative tests could then be performed with confidence. Modern analytical chemists can call on a range of specialist instrumental techniques which can detect the presence of all elements, often all at once, and often quantitatively. The drawback is that the instruments tend to be expensive, suited to particular sample types or matrices and complex in both setting up and in the interpretation of results. Furthermore the general analytical chemist may have access and familiarity with only one or two methods. The purpose of this book is to familiarize analytical chemists with all the multi-element analysis techniques, to enable them to specify the most appropriate test for any given sample. This book should be of interest to professional analytical chemists, geochemists, biologists and environmental scientists.
