What are detection techniques?
Substances must somehow be recognized in the sample or in the separation technique applied to the sample. The process is called detection and can be based on a great variety of chemical and physical means. Light is often used to detect compounds because different compounds absorb light differently, and these differences can be measured. Thus, measurements are involved in this stage of the analysis where results are reported in numerical format with appropriate units.
Substances must somehow be recognized in the sample or in the separation technique applied to the sample. The process is called detection and can be based on a great variety of chemical and physical means. Light is often used to detect compounds because different compounds absorb light differently, and these differences can be measured. Thus, measurements are involved in this stage of the analysis where results are reported in numerical format with appropriate units. Mass spectrometry is a favorite technique of detection because of its specific, sensitive, and quantitative nature. Additional detector examples include flame ionization, electron capture, infrared absorption, fluorescence intensity, and electrical conductivity. Mass spectrometry itself depends on making and separating ions from the sample (based on one of several ion optics designs) and detecting them via an electron multiplier or photomultiplier detector.
