Analyte
The specific substance whose presence or amount is being determined in an analysis.
Unit
mol/L
In depth
Identifying the analyte precisely is the first step of method development, since the technique, sample preparation and interferences all depend on it. In complex samples the analyte may be present at trace levels among components millions of times more abundant.
Examples in the real world
Glucose in a blood sample; mercury in fish tissue; the active ingredient in a tablet.