Teaching analytical chemistry in China: past, present, and future perspectives.

While there are references to the practice of chemical analysis in ancient Chinese times, the modern system of analytical chemistry was introduced into China in the late 19th century. Thanks to the Chinese chemist Shou Xu, who translated several chemical books from western countries, including two important books on analytical chemistry: Manual of Qualitative Chemical Analysis [1] and Quantitative Chemical Analysis [2]. The Chinese titles of the translated books were HUAXUE KAOZHI and HUAXUE QIUSHU. These two books, together with other books translated later by Chinese scientists, became the key textbooks for chemical analysis. For a long time, however, all textbooks related to the analytical chemistry in China were translated from western countries. Almost no textbooks on analytical chemistry were written by Chinese professors until the 1930s. The earliest textbooks written by Chinese professors, which can be found in the library of Tsinghua University, are “Quantitative Chemical Analysis” by Yuanyu Cao in 1939 [3], and “Practically Quantitative Analytical Chemistry” by Xihong Sun in 1940 [4]. Beside the textbook of chemical analysis, the first textbook of instrumental analysis was written by Professor Hong Gao from Nanjing University in 1956 [5], although very few universities could offer this course to undergraduate students at that time. A big change happened in 1977: the Chinese opened the door to the world. The facilities for the analytical chemistry experiments have been greatly improved since then. Moreover, many professors in Chinese universities now have studied in western countries; therefore, the perfect combination of teaching analytical chemistry of China with that of western countries has been well achieved.