Methodological Aspects of the Group Analysis of Organic Substances

Abstract

Samples of complex composition usually contain similar organic compounds, molecules of which differ in the composition and structure but are characterized by common features (structural, functional, chemical analytical, etc.), uncharacteristic for other compounds. summary concentration of similar compounds are figures of the group composition of a studied sample. Procedures for their determination are widely used in analytical control and research laboratories. A special type of chemical analysis, group analysis (GA) was developed by the end of the 20th century. Structural group analysis (SGA) is considered an important special case of GA. Unfortunately, the methodological and metrological aspects of GA and SGA have been studied insufficiently. A conventional system of terms in this field also has not been developed. This paper considers the system of terms and the history GA, principles of group formation, and methods of the assessment of summary concentration. The unresolved problems of GA are emphasized. These are the uncertainty of the qualitative composition of groups, hindering the interpretation of the results of group analysis, and also intragroup selectivity and nonadditivity of the analytical signals. Possible solutions of these problems are considered.