Chemical changes qualitative/quantitative descriptions

In the second half of the nineteenth century the structural theory of organic chemistry was developed. It led to the concept that chemical, physical and biological properties of all kinds must vary with structural change. The earliest structure-property relationships (SPR) were qualitative. With the development of methods of quantitative measurement of these properties data accumulated. Attempts were then made to develop quantitative models of the structural dependence of these properties. These methods for the quantitative description of structural effects will now be described. 

This change reflects a growing awareness that chemical interactions between chemical species are important in complex chemical systems. Increased reliance on multi-elemental analysis reflects the ease with which such analyses can be performed. Recent advances in electronics, chemical instrumentation, and computerized data acquisition have quantitatively and qualitatively changed analytical chemistry. Chemists measure more variables and perform more experiments in less time than feasible just a few years ago. In spite of our recently acquired data affluence, many complex problems remain unsolved. The enhanced insight that additional dataware to provide has failed to materialize. In some cases, more data cloud the issue rather than clarify it. Acquiring massive quantities of data is ineffective until interpretations are made and incorporated into a mechanistic description of the system. 

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