What are the main goals of analytical chemistry?

The main goals of analytical chemistry center on the identification and quantification of the components of substances. This discipline focuses on understanding what substances are made of and how much of each component is present. Techniques used in analytical chemistry allow chemists to analyze complex mixtures and determine the composition of samples, which is critical in applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to environmental monitoring.

Identifying substances involves methods such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, which provide detailed information about the molecular makeup of compounds. Quantification, on the other hand, deals with measuring the amounts of these components, which is essential for ensuring quality control in manufacturing processes, regulatory compliance, and research.

In contrast, creating new chemical compounds and materials is more aligned with synthetic or organic chemistry, not primarily the focus of analytical chemistry. Measuring chemical reactivity pertains more to kinetic studies and is not the primary aim of analytical methods. While studying the environmental impacts of chemicals is essential, it typically falls under environmental chemistry. Analytical chemistry tools can support this study but do not constitute its main goal.