The Three Pillars of Confidence in Chemical Measurement : A Collection of Essays

What if everything you thought you knew about uncertainty in chemical measurement was incomplete – or even misleading? For more than sixty years, Michael Thompson has lived at the coalface of chemical measurement: analysing thousands of samples; developing and validating methods; teaching generations of analysts; studying huge amounts of other people's data; and exploring quality frameworks that define the field. Along the way, his conviction grew steadily stronger that qualimetrics – the science of measurement quality – needs a thorough rethink. In this sharp, provocative and often witty collection of essays, the author explores the fault lines embedded in today’s ‘official’ metrological landscape. Why are some pillars of chemical measurement taken as gospel when they fail under scrutiny? How did essential concepts become so obscured by dogma and terminology? Drawing on a lifetime of experience, the author sheds new light on topics including: traceability and mass fractions; collaborative trials, proficiency testing and method validation – their flaws and strengths; sampling uncertainties, too often ignored yet as important as measurement itself; and how a more scientific, less dogmatic mindset could move the field forward. Interwoven with personal recollections – from mentors and memorable characters to the daily realities of analytical work – these essays offer both depth and humanity. Whether you are a practising analyst, a metrologist, a student or simply someone curious about how we know what we know in chemistry, this book challenges assumptions and argues passionately for a more coherent future for qualimetrics.