This book has been written for the practicing chemist whose occasional task may be qualitative analysis. It deals with the investigation of things as they are without any limitations to the scope. It emphasizes the identification of materials - inorganic, organic, organized (biological), common, rare, described or not described in the accessible literatur- as they actually occur in nature and industry, or are met in the investigation of mishaps and crime. The description of techniques - macro to submicro - and the practice exercises have been included since the teaching of these arts is rarely a part of academic curricula and it happens with increasing frequency that chemists have to acquire them "on the job". In the systematic procedure given, emphasis is placed upon the investiga tion of minute specimens and upon acute reasoning that continuously weighs all accumulating evi9.ence. The work begins with the consideration of the history of the material under investigation. Especially when specks of all organic substance shall be identified, it should be realized that the discovery of the source - and consequently of the possibilities involve- may be the most valuable clue to an efficient solution of the problem.
