A procedure employed to ascertain the presence, absence, or quantity of a specific substance within a sample. For example, a titration might be performed to determine the concentration of an acid in a solution, or a colorimetric assay used to quantify the amount of protein present in a biological sample.
Such analytical techniques are vital across numerous disciplines, including environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical development, and food safety. They provide crucial data for quality control, regulatory compliance, and scientific advancement. Their development has enabled progress in fields ranging from medicine to materials science, providing objective measurements for informed decision-making.