When you analyse samples, what do you mean by a ‘Chemical Identity’, how do you get a chemical identity and is there

Question: When you analyse samples, what do you mean by a 'Chemical Identity', how do you get a chemical identity and is there any equiptment you use that I wouldn't know about in year 9 ( if so what)?
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Asked by EmmaC44 to Arlene on 17 Nov 2015.
- Arlene McBroom answered on 17 Nov 2015:
  
  chemical identity loosely means working out the chemical formula of the sample. This can be done either using a technique like infra-red or raman spectroscopy which will give me something that looks like a graph with a squiggly line on it, based on the shape of the squiggly line I can work out what the chemical formula is (or at least try!). Or if something isn’t organic (isn’t make of carbon) I can put it under an EDX (Energy dispersive x-ray) detector and it will tell me what elements are present – I cant work out how many of each are there but this can give an indication of the material. For example: iron + chromium + nickel = stainless steel.

Question: When you analyse samples, what do you mean by a 'Chemical Identity', how do you get a chemical identity and is there any equiptment you use that I wouldn't know about in year 9 ( if so what)?