Fresenius Remigius C. Qualitative Chemical Analysis

Tenth Edition. — London: J & A Churchill, 1887. — 480 p.Chemistry, as is well known, is the science which treats of the various materials of which the earth is formed, their composition and decomposition, and especially their mutual relations to one another. A special branch of this science is designated Analytical Chemistry, in as much as it has a distinct and definite object, that is the analysis of compounds, and the determination of their component elements. Analytical chemistry, again, is subdivided into two branches, namely, Quantitative analysis, which treats of the nature and properties of the component parts of various substances; and Quantitative analysis, by which the amount of every individual constituent present is determined. The object of qualitative analysis, therefore, is to present the constituents of a substance of unknown composition in forms of known composition, from which definite conclusions may be drawn as to the constitution of the substance examined, and the presence of the several elements of which it is composed. The value of the method depends on two conditions, in the first place, it must attain the object in view with certainty, and secondly in the most expeditious manner possible. Quantitative analysis, on the other hand, exhibits the elements revealed by the qualitative investigation in forms which will permit of the accurate determination of their weight, or in some other way to ascertain the amount of them present. Of course, the way in which these different ends are attained varies greatly. The study of qualitative analysis must, therefore, be pursued separately from that of quantitative analysis, and must naturally precede it.