Sample (material) - Sample Characteristics

Sample Characteristics

The material may be solid, liquid, gas, material of some intermediate characteristics such as gel or sputum, tissue, organisms, or a combination of these. Even if a material sample is not countable as individual items, the quantity of the sample may still be describable in terms of its volume, mass, size, or other such dimensions. A solid sample can come in one or a few discrete pieces, or can be fragmented, granular, or powdered. A section of a rod, wire, cord, sheeting, or tubing may be considered a sample. Samples which are not a solid piece are commonly kept in a container of some sort. In the field of science, a liquid sample is sometimes called an aliquot.