Covering all theoretical and practical aspects of the applications of spot tests to organic analysis, this book includes information on more than 900 tests. It continues to be an indispensable reference to organic and analytical chemists in academia and in industry.

Many years have passed since the last edition of the present book was published. The discovery during this period of many new reagents has resulted in a vast accumulation of data on their application and made this completely revised edition necessary.Numerous new tests and various new chapters have been added. Chapters 3,4 and 5 of the fifth edition have been combined into one chapter, which is divided into sections devoted to the elements. These sections are arranged in alphabetical order to make for easier location of information on a given element. To further improve the usefulness of the volume, a reference list has been provided for each sub-section followed by a biography of the appropriate quantitative methods.

The American edition of our monograph is not a mere translation of the Czech edition, which appeared some five years ago. We have had to respect the fact that even such a short period has sufficed for progress in this field, and that the field of application of methods of organic analysis has widened. We have therefore revised a number of chapters in Part 1, the general part of the monograph-mainly those devoted to chromatographic methods, which have been extended and complemented by methods of thin-layer chromatography and electrophoresis. The chapters on the theory of color reactions and on analytical literature have also been extended; the chapter on spectral methods has been extended by including the use of proton magnetic resonance in organic analysis, and the list of references has been enlarged by adding books of importance for organic analysis. In Part 2, the part dealing specifically with various elements and chemical groups, we have extended the chapters on solubility and on acids and bases. The methods for the detection and identification of given classes of compounds have also been supplemented by references to recent papers.

The working title of the book was The Detection of Analytes by the Resin Spot Tests Method. Firstly, we decided to sort out all published qualitative methods systematically against analytes. We were not discouraged by the obstacles, such as the study of a great number of papers published in Japanese, the difficulty in locating (especially older) publications, or the time required. Still, having in mind not to burden unnecessarily the volume of the book, we dismissed the idea of systematically listing all the procedures in detail. Nevertheless, a relatively large number of them found a place in the book, and perhaps this will contribute to the stirring of spontaneous interest in this technique in the ranks of applied chemists and others who a priori shun the technique.

Knowledge in the field of allergic contact dermatitis has grown to a great extent, due to recent advances in the chemical, immunological and clinical fields. These advances include the improved techniques of patch testing and prick testing, e.g. additional tests such as open, semi-open, repeated open application test (ROAT) and use tests, photopatch tests, atopy patch tests and provocative tests. Further, due to the ongoing changes in our environment, the series of patch tests – the so-called standards – are also regularly renewed. This new edition is completely revised, updated and expanded, with more colour illustrations. It is a universally useful and superb guide in the management of positive and negative patch test and prick test reactions, for all practicing dermatologists, from the beginner to the well-trained expert.