Parts III and IV of this book are published in a separate volume, as a laboratory manual for qualitative analysis. They comprise the instructions for laboratory work introductory to systematic analysis (the study of reactions and of the analysis of groups, in Part III) and an outline for elementary systematic analysis (Part IV). The attempt has been made, in particular, to bring the laboratory work, which otherwise follows the usual lines of instruction in systematic analysis, ‹also into closest relations to the development of the scientific foundations of analytical chemistry›, as represented in Parts I and II. It is believed that the subject matter lends itself especially well to such a close interweaving of the two sides of the study, without any special loss of time to the student, and with the result, it is hoped, of a greatly increased interest on his part and an increased stimulus of the habit of scientific thought.
The following plan of work is used by the author with his classes: The first section (lasting eleven weeks) of the course in qualitative analysis is started with some seven to ten (according to the ability of the class) lectures or classroom exercises, given daily, and covering the first seven or the eight chapters of Part I. At the end of the second week the laboratory work is started. During the remainder of this section of the course, two hours of classroom work and eight hours of laboratory work per week are required, and, in this period, Part III, comprising the first half of the laboratory manual, is studied in the laboratory in closest connection with the classroom work on Part II of the book. As far as possible, the laboratory work on a given topic ‹precedes› the classroom work. This first course is followed by an eleven weeks' course in systematic analysis, covering Part IV of the book. A third (graduate) course, optional for students specializing in chemistry, is offered, in which very complex commercial and natural products are analyzed and in which special attention is also given to rare elements. During this course, particular care is taken to familiarize students with other works on qualitative analysis, such as the outlines of A. A. Noyes and Bray, and the special parts of Fresenius's manual.