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Scientific technique
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<p>A scientific technique is any <a href="/facts/Systematic_process/n9KVyIxw">systematic</a> way of obtaining <a href="/facts/Information/3LdrzXtJ">information</a> about a <a href="/facts/Science/IJoaD7rs">scientific</a> nature or to obtain a <a href="/facts/Desire_(emotion)/wGGhA9G8">desired</a> material or <a href="/facts/Product_(business)/l9P9fUJa">product</a>. </p><p>Scientific techniques can be divided in many different groups, e.g.: </p> <ol><li>Preparative techniques <ol><li>Synthesis techniques, e.g. the use of Grignard reagents in <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a></li> <li>Growth techniques, e.g. <a href="/facts/Crystal_growth/QwhSDA5y">crystal growth</a> or <a href="/facts/Cell_culture/7Qhu13D9">cell cultures</a> in biology</li> <li>Purification techniques e.g. <a href="/facts/List_of_purification_methods_in_chemistry/fSh2XHfh">those in chemistry</a></li></ol></li> <li>Measurement techniques <ol><li>Analysis techniques, e.g. ones that reveal atomic or molecular composition.</li> <li>Characterization techniques, e.g. ones that measure a certain property of a material.</li> <li>Imaging techniques, e.g. <a href="/facts/Microscopy/GpHlElDS">microscopy</a></li></ol></li></ol> <p>In some cases these methods have evolved into instrumental techniques that require expensive equipment. This is particularly true in sciences like <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, and <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">astronomy</a>. It is customary to abbreviate the names of techniques into acronyms, although this does not hold for all of them. Particularly the advent of the computer has led to a true proliferation in the number of techniques to the point that few scientists still have a good overview over all that is available. See, for example, the <a href="/facts/List_of_materials_analysis_methods/JKbKNBQg">list of materials analysis methods</a> and Category:Scientific techniques. </p>