Why Analysis Tools? 

Analytical tools or analysis tools help one to get into a conclusion or results from the data collected. Analytical tools can be applied for simple data sets and also in the case of big data analytics. 

What is Analytics? 

Analytics can be simply defined as the systematic analysis of data sets in order to obtain an outcome from the collected data. All kinds of collected data contain some sort of information with them. In order to draw a conclusion from that we need analytics. In analytics, we usually use data and math to produce an output. 

Analytics can be differentiated into two classes, that is the quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis. In quantitative analysis, numerical data is being analyzed to get a conclusion. In the case of qualitative analysis, descriptive data is being analyzed. For example, in a group of students, the data collected with respect to ‘how many students passed the final exam?’ should be dealt with quantitative analytics. On the other hand, the data collected with respect to ‘how the students passed the final exam?’ should be dealt with qualitative analysis. 

Qualitative analysis can be considered as a subjective analysis. It includes data which cannot be computed and non-statistical. The data set always contain non-measurable variables like colour, sex, taste, smell and so on. Qualitative analysis enquires information on the basis of how or why a certain event has happened. 

Quantitative analysis on the other hand, can be considered as an objective analysis. The data set in this case should contain measurable quantities like length, weight, age, concentration and so on. Quantitative analysis enquires information on the basis of how much or how many events have happened. 

Both quantitative and qualitative analysis can be effectively applied in the case of big data analytics also. In big data analytics, large and diverse data sets are to be analysed using very advanced and potential analytic tools. 

Analytics has been widely used in all fields of study and research. And it has conceptual changes when moving from one branch of study to another. For instance, the data analysis employed in business management for data sets and big data analytics will be different from that used in scientific research. 

In every field the purpose of analytics is the same, to interpret unstructured data into beneficial information using data analysis techniques. 

Analytics in Chemistry 

In the branch of chemistry also, analytics plays an important role. Analytical chemistry is a separate class of chemistry which deals with the identification and quantification of a matter. Analytical chemistry has the potential to study and research about an unknown matter with respect to its physical characteristics, chemical characteristics and the amount present. 

History of Analytical Chemistry 

Analytical chemistry has played an important role in chemistry since its inception, offering methods for determining which components are present in a given substance. Flame emission spectrometry, invented by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff, was the first instrumental version of analytical chemistry. The majority of major advances in analytical chemistry occur after 1900. Throughout this time, chemical analysis using instrumentation gradually gains a foothold in the field. Many of the fundamental spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, in particular, were found in the early twentieth century and improved in the late twentieth. 

Chemical analysis using instrumentation dominates in modern analytical chemistry.  Many approaches are kept purposefully stagnant after they've been created so that data can be contrasted over time. 

In analytical chemistry also, there are two classifications. Analysis of a matter can be made in two ways, quantitative and qualitative. Many approaches are kept purposefully stagnant after they've been created so that data can be contrasted over time. 

Qualitative Analysis in Chemistry 

As in the case of general qualitative analysis, qualitative analysis in chemistry also deals with non-measurable data. This class of analysis in chemistry actually tries to find the answer for ‘What?’. For instance, qualitative analysis of a matter can lead to the information about its components. In this case we could get the answer for the question. 

 In order to analyse a sample by qualitative methods one can use colour, smell, bubble production and so on. Since these are all non-measurable data, they come under qualitative analysis. Some of the qualitative analysis tools used in chemistry are listed below: 

• Changes in color 
• Odor 
• Melting point 
• Reactivity 
• Radioactivity 
• Bubble production 
• Precipitate formation 
• Boiling point 

Qualitative analysis tests can be employed which may accompany colour change, odour formation, bubble formation of precipitate formation.For instance, iodine test is used as a qualitative analysis to identify the presence of starch. The appearance of blue colour indicates the presence of starch. 

Another qualitative test is the bicarbonate test which used to identify carboxylic acids and sulfonic acids. During this test if bubbles or frothing is formed the presence of an acid group is confirmed. 

Quantitative Analysis in Chemistry 

In the case of quantitative analysis in chemistry, the data set will be numerical. Here we are dealing with the amount or concentration of a particular species. Thus, the question we get is ‘How much?’ or ‘How many?’.  For quantitative analysis in chemistry, many tools, methods and instrumentations have been employed. They can be widely classified into physical methods and chemical methods. 

In quantitative chemical analysis using a physical method, the data set will be a physical property like density, light adsorption, refractive index, magnetic susceptibility and so on. Some of the tools employed are given below: 

• Spectroscopic methods 
• X-ray diffraction studies 
• Chromatography 

In quantitative chemical analysis, using chemical methods, the data set will be a chemical property like oxidation, reduction, precipitate formation and so on. Some of the tools employed are given below; 

• Volumetric analysis 
• Gravimetric analysis 
• Combustion analysis 

 Analytical Chemistry Methods and Applications 

• Mass spectrometry: This is one of the important spectrometric studies present nowadays. In mass spectrometry, the recognition and detection of components are based on their mass characteristics. 
• HPLC Chromatography: This is actually a separation method used to detect components in a mixture. Here size of the component and their adsorption to certain ligands is the basis of separation. 
• Calorimetry: This is a thermodynamic analysis method. Here the variations in temperature associated with the transformations in a compound have been monitored. 
• NMR spectroscopy: This is the most commonly used spectroscopic method when the structure of the component has to be analyzed. 
• Microscopy: Visual analysis of components that cannot be identified and analyzed using naked eyes are analyzed using different microscopic methods. There are three different approaches in microscopy, they are, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. 

Practice Problem 

Which analytical methods will be preferred in the following cases? 

1. Identification of anion and cation in a given species. 

2. For calculating the amount of a species in a given substance. 

 Answer:  a) qualitative chemical analysis. 

b)quantitative chemical analysis.

Context and Applications 

Analytical chemistry finds its application in medical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, food and many other industrial fields.  

• BSc. Chemistry 
• MSc. Chemistry