This Handbook aims to explain terminology widely used, and sometimes misused, in analytical chemistry. It provides much more information than the definition of each term but it does not explain how to make measurements. Additionally, it does not attempt to provide comprehensive coverage of all terms concerned with chemistry, instrumentation or analytical science. The authors have addressed primarily those terms associated with the quality assurance, validation and reliability of analytical measurements. The Handbook attempts to place each term in context and put over concepts in a way which is useful to analysts in the laboratory, to students and their teachers, and to authors of scientific papers or books. This approach is particularly important because official definitions produced by many international committees and organisations responsible for developing standards are frequently confusing. In a few cases the wording of these definitions completely obscures their meaning from anyone not already familiar with the terms.

The Handbook has two key features which are not usually found in scientific glossaries or other similar publications. Firstly, the contributors have attempted to explain not only the current, correct, usage of a term but also, where relevant, to indicate any differing usage which was common in the past or is still widely encountered. This is important because analysts frequently rely on books, guides or papers published many years ago and may well encounter usage of a term which directly conflicts with current practice. Similarly, newly-trained analysts work in the real world and may well encounter...