I’m a high school graduate who chose Chemistry as my subject; I’d like to study Chemistry more systematically—what should I do?

Organic Chemistry published by Oxford University—this book reportedly has no official Chinese translation, only unofficial ones. It enjoys an excellent reputation: its content is broader and its treatment of chemical properties deeper than that of the previously mentioned textbook Structure and Function; its emphasis also differs. If you’ve already worked through all the above textbooks, here are some advanced organic chemistry references: If you’re interested in reaction mechanisms: Strongly recommended are Art and the Disconnection Approach. If you wish to delve deeply into the structural properties of organic reactions and named reactions: 3. Physical Chemistry—often regarded as the ‘soul’ of Chemistry. Its contribution underpins Chemistry’s current status among the natural sciences. Studying Chemistry without physics is neither rigorous nor scientific. After mastering physical chemistry, you’ll view Chemistry from an entirely new perspective. Personally, I consider it one of the two most fascinating undergraduate courses—the other being Structural Chemistry. Briefly, physical chemistry applies physical concepts and theories to aid chemical research, covering topics such as: gas properties, chemical thermodynamics, elementary statistical physics, multicomponent systems, phase equilibria, electrochemistry, fundamentals of quantum mechanics, chemical kinetics, surface chemistry of solids, catalytic chemistry, and spectroscopic chemistry, among others. However, I recommend solidifying your mathematics foundation first (calculus, linear algebra, probability theory and mathematical statistics—and some general physics wouldn’t hurt either). 3-1. Physical Chemistry, edited by the Department of Physical Chemistry, Tianjin University I personally find this textbook more suitable for beginners than Nanjing University’s classic. Though somewhat simpler in content, it covers essentially all core topics—and even includes a concise introduction to quantum mechanics omitted in Nanjing University’s version. Mastering this book will prepare you well to use Nanjing University’s text for supplementary depth and expansion. 3-2. Physical Chemistry, by Fu Xiancai (Nanjing University Press) This Nanjing University textbook remains a classic—but its difficulty level is notably high. From the outset, it features demanding mathematical derivations, making it less beginner-friendly. I suggest thoroughly mastering Tianjin University’s version first; only then will Nanjing University’s text feel significantly more approachable. Also, don’t be lazy when learning: try deriving formulas yourself—even if you understand them when reading, doing so independently yields deeper insight. 3-3. Physical Chemistry, by Atkins My recommendation is to read this after completing the two preceding texts—to broaden your horizons. Professor Atkins writes exceptionally well, and his book is undoubtedly worth reading for anyone serious about physical chemistry. A careful reading will elevate your understanding to a new level. Compared with Nanjing University’s text, Atkins is actually less mathematically demanding—though both Atkins and Tianjin University adopt the ‘comprehensive physical chemistry’ framework (which includes structural chemistry), whereas Nanjing University’s does not. Consequently, quantum mechanical foundations within structural chemistry may pose extra challenges—perhaps requiring some familiarity with mathematical methods. Side note: Structural Chemistry If you’re interested in structural chemistry, consider these two references: Zhou Gongdu’s Fundamentals of Structural Chemistry—I’ve read parts of it and found it extremely difficult, almost incomprehensible (possibly due to my own limitations). I haven’t read Sun’s Structural Chemistry, but online reviews are generally favorable—you might consider purchasing it. Another classic is Wu Guangxian’s earlier textbook Matter Structure. Advanced Inorganic Structural Chemistry—if you have spare capacity, this is also worth exploring.

What exactly does chemical analysis examine?

Around 60 CE, Pliny the Elder applied a gallnut infusion to papyrus paper to detect iron impurities in copper sulfate—this was the earliest known use of an organic reagent and the earliest form of test paper. Not until 1751 did Eiler von Brockhausen apply the same method to determine iron content in blood residue (after ashing). Fire assay is an ancient analytical technique. As early as the 13th century BCE, the Babylonian king wrote to Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV: “The gold Your Majesty sent lost weight after being placed in the furnace…” This indicates that over 3,000 years ago people already knew the adage, “True gold fears no fire.” In the 14th century, French King Philip VI prescribed standardized procedures for gold testing—including specific requirements for balance construction and usage, such as placing balances away from drafts or cold air, and ensuring the analyst’s breath did not affect weighing. In the 18th century, Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman emerged as the founder of inorganic qualitative and quantitative analysis. He pioneered the idea that metal elements could be isolated and weighed not only in their metallic state but also in other forms—especially as water-insoluble compounds—a principle that laid the groundwork for wet gravimetric analysis. German chemist Martin Klaproth not only refined gravimetric procedures but also designed methods for determining numerous nonmetallic elements. He accurately analyzed the composition of nearly 200 minerals and various industrial products—including glass and non-ferrous alloys. The foremost figure in 18th-century analytical chemistry was Jöns Jacob Berzelius. He introduced novel reagents and techniques, and employed ashless filter paper, low-ash filter paper, and wash bottles. He was the first chemist to measure atomic weights with reasonable accuracy. Beyond inorganic substances, he also determined elemental percentages in organic compounds. He particularly emphasized blowpipe analysis: placing a tiny sample in a depression on a charcoal block and heating it with an oxidizing or reducing flame to observe changes—yielding qualitative information about the sample. This method remained in use throughout the 19th century, prized for its speed, minimal sample requirement, and utility in field exploration and mineral resource surveys. One outstanding 19th-century analytical chemist was Friedrich Fresenius, who founded a specialized school of analytical chemistry (still operating today) and launched the German-language journal Analytical Chemistry in 1862—still edited by his descendants. His textbooks Qualitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis were translated into many languages, including Chinese editions published during the late Qing Dynasty titled Chemical Qualitative Testing and Chemical Quantitative Determination, respectively. He revised the classical hydrogen sulfide cation scheme into the modern five-group system still used today, and recognized the influence of acidity–basicity on metal sulfide precipitation. In volumetric analysis, he proposed titrating Fe³⁺ with stannous chloride until the yellow color disappeared. In 1663, Robert Boyle reported using plant pigments as acid–base indicators—a precursor to volumetric analysis. Yet true volumetric analysis owes its origin to French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac. In 1824, he published a method for determining available chlorine in bleaching powder, using sulfonated indigo as indicator. Subsequently, he titrated potash with sulfuric acid and silver nitrate with sodium chloride—these three works respectively established redox titration, acid–base titration, and precipitation titration. Complexometric titration originated with Justus von Liebig, who used silver to titrate cyanide ions. Another major contributor to volumetric analysis was German chemist Karl Friedrich Mohr, who designed the burette still widely used today for dispensing strong alkaline solutions.

Analytical Chemistry Names Next Editor in Chief

Oct 8, 2026

The American Chemical Society has appointed Christy L. Haynes as the next editor-in-chief of Analytical Chemistry, effective January 1, 2027. She will become the first woman to lead the journal in its nearly century-long history.

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Analytical Chemistry Names Next Editor in Chief

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