Analytical Artifacts

This encyclopaedic catalogue of the pitfalls and problems that all analysts encounter in their work is destined to spend more time on the analyst's workbench than on a library shelf. The author has dedicated the book to ``the innumerable scientists who made mistakes, used impure chemicals and solvents, suffered the consequences of unanticipated side-reactions, and were otherwise exposed to mayhem yet were too embarrassed to publish their findings". Traditionally, the mass spectroscopist or gas chromatographer learnt his trade by participating in a 4-6 year apprenticeship as graduate student and post-doctoral researcher. Generally, no formal training was provided on the things that go wrong, but this information was accumulated by sharing in the experiences of colleagues. Nowadays, many novice scientists simply purchase a computerized instrument, plug it in, and use it. Much time can be wasted in studying and resolving problems due to artifacts and there is also a strong possibility that artifacts will not be recognized as such.