1. What is Analytical Chemistry?

 Analytical chemistry is the science concerned with the systematic identification or

characterization of established chemical species and their determination to known
degrees of certainty at any level of concentration and in any matrix in which they may
occur. Two points in the definition merit comment. Firstly, the analytical chemist is
concerned with established chemical species; it is not his function to determine the
structure of hitherto unknown compounds and secondly, the scope of analytical chemistry
extends well beyond establishing composition on an elemental basis. In practice, the
analytical chemist must differentiate between elements in free and ionic form, between
valence states, between complexed and uncompleted metals, between stereoisomers and
between phases in complex mixtures.

 Analytical chemistry is that branch of chemistry in which samples are analyzed in order
to determine their components qualitatively and quantitatively. In other words, analytical
chemists try to answer the questions, "Exactly what substances are in this sample?" and
"How much of each substance is found in this sample”.

 It also deals about qualitative analysis or the determination of the proportions of the
constituents or quantitative analysis techniques commonly used are titration,
precipitation, spectroscopy, chromatography, etc.

2. Role of Analytical Chemistry.

The sample gives a guide on the type on the type of analysis to be done to extract the required
information. Therefore the roles of an analytical chemist are vast. Among them is one or more of
the following:-

a) Instrumental design
b) Sampling techniques
c) Development and evaluation of new procedure
d) Laboratory management
e) Classical analysis
f) Statistical analysis
g) Optical systems development
h) Computer programming and electronics

3. Classifications of analytical chemistry

Analytical chemistry can be classified into Quantitative and Qualitative.

Assignment of Analytical Chemistry Page 1

Quantitative analysis refers to the determination of how much of a given component is present in
a sample. The quantity may be expressed in terms of mass, concentration, or relative abundance
of one or all components of a sample. Here are a few sample results of quantitative analysis:

 Ore contains 42.88% silver by mass.

 The chemical reaction yielded 3.22 moles of product.
 The solution is 0.102 M NaCl.

Qualitative analysis tells 'what' is in a sample, while quantitative analysis is used to tell 'how
much' is in a sample. The two types of analysis are often used together and are considered
examples of analytical chemistry.

4. Methods of chemical analysis

Analytical methods are often classified as being either classical or instrumental. This
classification is largely historical with classical methods, sometimes called wet-chemical
methods, preceding instrumental methods by a century or more.

Classical (chemical or wet) methods

These are the methods in which basic equipment’s are used based on simple chemical analysis.
Methods under this category include volumetric and gravimetric analysis. The methods usually
require samples with high concentrations. In this module these methods will be learnt.

Modern (instrumental) methods

These are methods which are based on measurement of physical or chemical property of a
substance and use of electronic, thermal or optical principles for determination. These methods
can be used to analyze samples with low concentrations. Many advances in analytical
measurements have occurred through modern methods; although a combination of the methods is
normally applied. These methods will be handled in higher level modules.

5. Economic importance of gymnosperm

The Gymnosperms are with high economic importance to mankind. For easy understanding, the
economic importance of Gymosperms can be categorized in the following:-

Ornamental value:

A number of gymnosperms are grown as ornamental plants, e.g., Cycas, Araucaria, Thuja etc.

Assignment of Analytical Chemistry Page 2

Food Value:
 ‘Sago’ starch obtained from pith and cortex of stem of C. revolute, C. rumphi etc.

 ‘Seed starch’ obtained from seeds of Cycas rumphii, Dioon edule etc. It is prepared into
flour and cooked before eating.

 Seeds of Pinus gerardiana (chilgoza) are edible.

 ‘Kaffir bread’ prepared from the stem pith of Encephalartos.

 Young leaves of Cycas cooked as vegetables.

Medicinal value:
 Ephedrine (alkaloid) extracted from Ephedra used in treating asthma, cough, cold,
bronchitis etc.

 Tincture of Ephedra is a cardiac stimulant.

 The juice extracted from young leaves of Cycas revoluta is used for curing blood
vomiting and flatulence.

Industrial Use:
 Gum-Cycas gum used as adhesive, antidote for snake bites and using malignant ulcers.

 Tannins – Tannins extracted from bark of Araucaria, Pinus, Sequoia etc. used in leather
industry.

 Canada balsam – It is turpentine obtained from Abies balsamea and used as a mounting
medium in biological preparations.

 Amber (fossil resin) – obtained from Pinus succinifera. Wood of Pinus is used for doors,
poles, beams, railway wagon flooring etc.

 Plywood prepared from Podocarpus.

 Papers like newsprints, writing and printing papers are being prepared from the wood
pulp of Pinus, Picea,Abeis, Gnetum etc.

Assignment of Analytical Chemistry Page 3

Source of oils:
 Oils extracted from seeds of C. revoluta, Macrozamia reidlei, Pinus cembra and
Cephalotaxus drupacea are used as edible oils.

 Red cedar wood oil extracted from the heart wood of Juniperus virginiana is used for
cleaning microscopic preparations and for oil immersion lenses.

 Oils obtained from Cedrus deodara, Ciyptomeria japonica and Cupressus serm-perivirens
are used in preparations of perfumes.

6. Classification of gymnosperm

The word “Gymnosperm” comes from the Greek words “gymnos” means naked and “sperma”
means seed, hence “Naked seeds.” Gymnosperms are the seed-producing plants, but unlike
angiosperms, they produce seeds without fruits. These plants develop on the surface of scales or
leaves, or at the end of stalks forming a cone-like structure.

Classification of Gymnosperms by Chamberlain (1934)

Chamberlain (1934) divided the Gymnosperms into two classes and each class into orders.

Gymnosperms were divided into two classes:

a) Cycadophyta
b) Coniferophyta
Order:
* Cycadofilicales
Class I
*Cycadeoidales
Cycadophta
*Cycadales
Gymnosperms

Order:
Class II * Cordaitales
Conifrophyta *Ginkgoales
*Coniferales
*Gnetales

There is also other classification

Assignment of Analytical Chemistry Page 4

Gymnosperms are classified into four types as given below –

Cycadophyta
Cycads are dioecious (meaning: individual plants are either all male or female). Cycads are seed-
bearing plants where the majority of the members are now extinct.
These plants usually have large compound leaves, thick trunks and small leaflets which are
attached to a single central stem. Cycads are usually found in the tropics and subtropics.

Ginkgophyta
Another class of Gymnosperms, Ginkgophyta has only one living species. All other members of
this class are now extinct.
The Ginkgo trees are characterized by their large size and their fan-like leaves.

Gnetophyta
Just like the other members of gymnosperms, Gnetophytes are also relics from the past. Today,
only three members of this genus exist.
Gnetophytes usually consist of tropical plants, trees, and shrubs. They are characterized by
flowery leaves that have a soft coating.
Gnetophytes differ from other members of this class as they possess vessel elements in their
xylem.

Coniferophyta
These are the most commonly known species among the gymnosperms. They are evergreen,
hence they don’t shed their leaves in the winter. These are mainly characterized by male and
female cones which form needle-like structures.
Coniferous trees are usually found in temperate zones where the average temperature is 10 ℃.

Assignment of Analytical Chemistry Page 5