As currently taught, the introductory course in analytical chemistry emphasizes quantitative (and sometimes qualitative) methods of analysis coupled with a heavy dose of equilibrium chemistry. Analytical chemistry, however, is more than equilib- rium chemistry and a collection of analytical methods; it is an approach to solving chemical problems. Although discussing different methods is important, that dis- cussion should not come at the expense of other equally important topics. The intro- ductory analytical course is the ideal place in the chemistry curriculum to explore topics such as experimental design, sampling, calibration strategies, standardization, optimization, statistics, and the validation of experimental results. These topics are important in developing good experimental protocols,.
