Analysis in which substances are identified or classified on the basis of their chemical
or physical properties, such as chemical reactivity,
solubility,
molecular weight,
melting point, radiative properties (emission, absorption), mass spectra, nuclear half-life,
etc.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1699
(Nomenclature in evaluation of analytical methods including detection and quantification
capabilities (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1701