In chemistry, a chemical test is a qualitative or quantitative procedure designed to identify, quantify, or characterise a chemical compound or chemical group.
Purposes
Chemical testing might have a variety of purposes, such as to: Determine if, or verify that, the requirements of a specification, regulation, or contract are met Decide if a new product development program is on track: Demonstrate proof of concept Demonstrate the utility of a proposed patent Determine the interactions of a sample with other known substances Determine the composition of a sample Provide standard data for other scientific, medical, and Quality assurance functions Validate suitability for end-use Provide a basis for Technical communication Provide a technical means of comparison of several options Provide evidence in legal proceedings
Biochemical tests
Clinistrips quantitatively test for sugar in urine
The Kastle-Meyer test tests for the presence of blood
Salicylate testing is a category of drug testing that is focused on detecting salicylates such as acetylsalicylic acid for either biochemical or medical purposes. The Phadebas test tests for the presence of saliva for forensic purposes Iodine solution tests for starch The Van Slyke determination tests for specific amino acids The Zimmermann test tests for ketosteroids Seliwanoff's test differentiates between aldose and ketose sugars Test for lipids: add ethanol to sample, then shake; add water to the solution, and shake again. If fat is present, the product turns milky white. The Sakaguchi test detects the presence of arginine in protein The Hopkins–Cole reaction tests for the presence of tryptophan in proteins The nitroprusside reaction tests for the presence of free thiol groups of cysteine in proteins The Sullivan reaction tests for the presence of cysteine and cystine in proteins The Acree–Rosenheim reaction tests for the presence of tryptophan in proteins The Pauly reaction tests for the presence of tyrosine or histidine in proteins Heller's test tests for the presence of albumin in urine Gmelin's test tests for the presence of bile pigments in urine Hay's test tests for the presence of bile pigments in urine
Reducing sugars
Barfoed's test tests for reducing polysaccharides or disaccharides
Benedict's reagent tests for reducing sugars or aldehydes
Fehling's solution tests for reducing sugars or aldehydes, similar to Benedict's reagent Molisch's test tests for carbohydrates Nylander's test tests for reducing sugars Rapid furfural test distinguishes between glucose and fructose
Proteins and polypeptides
The bicinchoninic acid assay tests for proteins
The Biuret test tests for proteins and polypeptides
Bradford protein assay measures protein quantitatively
The Phadebas amylase test determines alpha-amylase activity
Organic tests
The carbylamine reaction tests for primary amines
The Griess test tests for organic nitrite compounds
The iodoform reaction tests for the presence of methyl ketones, or compounds which can be oxidized to methyl ketones The Schiff test detects aldehydes Tollens' reagent tests for aldehydes (known as the silver mirror test) The Zeisel determination tests for the presence of esters or ethers Lucas' reagent is used to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The bromine test is used to test for the presence of unsaturation and phenols.
Inorganic tests
Barium chloride tests for sulfates
The Beilstein test tests for halides qualitatively
The bead test tests for certain metals
The Carius halogen method measures halides quantitatively. Chemical tests for cyanide test for the presence of cyanide, CN− Copper sulfate tests for the presence of water Flame tests test for metals The Gilman test tests for the presence of a Grignard reagent The Kjeldahl method quantitatively determines the presence of nitrogen Nessler's reagent tests for the presence of ammonia Ninhydrin tests for ammonia or primary amines Phosphate tests test for phosphate The sodium fusion test tests for the presence of nitrogen, sulfur, and halides in a sample The Zerewitinoff determination tests for any acidic hydrogen The Oddy test tests for acid, aldehydes, and sulfides Gunzberg's test tests for the presence of hydrochloric acid Kelling's test tests for the presence of lactic acid