**3.4. Social responsibility**

Social responsibility (SR) is a concept encompassing a series of activities intended to support social well-being and help protect the environment which has extended from the corporate world to other human activities such as those involved in Science and Technology. In particular, Social Responsibility of Analytical Chemistry (SRAC) [17] is directed related to the impact of (bio)chemical information or knowledge from objects and systems to society, in general, and to human and animal health, the environment, industry and agrifoods, among others, in particular.

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An integral approach to quality should rely on the following essential components: (1) the basic connotations of the concept as related to a set of features and comparisons, which in Analytical Chemistry materialize in analytical properties (Figure 6) and the three basic standards (Figure 4); (2) the practical connotations of fulfilling the (bio)chemical information needs posed by clients, which is one of the essential aims of Analytical Chemistry (Figure 3); and (3) the measurability of quality in terms of the capital, basic and productivity-related

Classification 3 in Figure 8 allows (bio)chemical information types to be depicted as shown in Figure 12, which additionally shows their mutual relationships via a tetrahedron. The arrows in the figure represent tendencies to converge —in the ideal situation, the tetrahedron could be replaced with a single, common point. Below is briefly described each

**Figure 12.** Types of analytical information according to quality and location in a tetrahedron. (1) denotes the ideal situation, in clear contrast with the other types (triangle 2–3–4). The triangles 1–2–4 and 1–3–4 represent problem solving and Metrology in Chemistry, respectively. For details, see text.

**4. Analytical quality** 

member of the tetrahedron.

properties for analytical methods and their results.

SRAC encompasses two basic requirements, namely: (1) producing reliable data, information and knowledge by using sustainable procedures in the framework of so named "green methods of analysis" [18]; and (2) ensuring consistency of delivered data, information and knowledge with the facts to avoid false expectations and unwarranted warnings.

Analytical Chemistry can therefore provide society with signals (data), results (information) and knowledge (reports), which can have a rather different impact. As can be seen in Figure 11, SRAC has two complementary connotations. One, intrinsic in nature, is the sustainable production of reliable data and results, and their appropriate transfer —which can be made difficult by contextualization and interpretation errors if left in the hands of nonexperts. The other, external connotation, is the appropriate delivery of reports (knowledge) to provide society with accurate information about the composition of natural and artificial objects and systems.

**Figure 11.** Connotations of Social Responsibility in Analytical Chemistry and ways to transfer data, information and knowledge to society. For details, see text.
