Qualitative test

Definition

A test that shows whether a substance is present from an observation such as a colour change, rather than measuring its exact concentration.

Used by Edexcel and OCR

Specification 1.13B · Paper 1, Paper 2

These are qualitative tests: they are mainly used to decide whether starch, reducing sugar, protein or lipid is present. A food can give more than one positive result because it can contain several different nutrients.
Revise: Food Tests Investigation

Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

A test that shows whether a substance is present by a change in colour or appearance, rather than measuring its exact amount.
Revise: Biological Molecules

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A test that shows whether a substance is present but does not measure precisely how much is present.

A test that identifies a substance from an observation, such as a colour change, rather than measuring its exact amount.