The realization that we were close to a miracle comes too late.
Alexander Blok (1880-1921) - Russian poet
Modern analytical chemistry (analytics) includes a large variety of methods and covers a more significant scope of activities than what is described in the chapters of two books of this training manual and corresponds to the Programme of analytical chemistry with a course of instrumental methods of analysis for students of pharmaceutical universities (faculties). The last approved variant of this programme makes provisions for analytical chemistry teaching during one academic year (two semesters) according to the academic curriculum in the scope of 378 academic hours (except elective course), where classroom hours - 252: 72 hours for lectures and 180 hours for laboratory practicals, which implies studying fundamental and basic methods of analysis used in pharmaceutical science by the students. Further, in-depth study and practice in specific methods and analytical procedures of medicinal herbs, drugs, toxicological substances are carried out in pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical and toxicological chemistry courses, respectively.
Pharmaceutical analysis is based on the use of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. A major contribution to the development of pharmaceutical analysis was made by academician A.P. Arzamastsev and his scientific school. Significant advances in this field were achieved in the publications of V.G. Belikov, E.N. Vergeichik, E.V. Degterev, V.A. Popkov, B.M. Pyatin, B.A. Rudenko, N.A. Tyukavkina, F.M. Shemyakin and other scientists.
The development of modern pharmaceutical, especially pharmacopeial, analysis indicates the following consistent trends.
Qualitative chemical analysis of cations and anions remains widely used in daily practice for determination of drug products identity during their quality control. Fractional analysis based on pharmacopeial analytical reactions is used. Qualitative systematic analysis of cations and anions is little used recently, because drug products, as a rule, contain only a limited number of cations and anions.