Metrology and analytical chemistry: Bridging the cultural gap

Metrology in general, and issues such as traceability and measurement uncertainty in particular, are new to most analytical chemists, many of whom are unconvinced of their value. There is a danger of a widening of the cultural gap between metrologists and analytical chemists and it is important to encourage greater collaboration and cross-fertilization. This paper discusses some of the similarities and differences in the approaches adopted by metrologists and analytical chemists and indicates how these approaches could be combined to establish a unique metrology of chemical measurement acceptable to both cultures.