Importance of the subject Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in university students

This study aims to analyze the formative role of the Analytical Chemistry laboratory in higher education, emphasizing its importance, which goes beyond technical learning. As the main methodological approach, a critical review of specialized literature was conducted, arguing that the laboratory constitutes a key space today for integrating theoretical, practical, ethical, and collaborative aspects. This integration fosters the development of complex cognitive skills such as critical thinking, data interpretation, and, consequently, decision-making. Additionally, experiences in virtual contexts or with certain infrastructure limitations were reviewed, demonstrating that, although useful as a complement, these alternatives have not yet been able to replace the pedagogical richness of real experimental experience. Finally, some limitations of the analysis are acknowledged, and it is proposed to expand the reflection to other disciplines and educational contexts, as well as explore new pedagogical strategies to strengthen the link between theory and practice in university scientific education.