What does the term 'recovery' refer to in analytical chemistry?

In analytical chemistry, 'recovery' specifically refers to the percentage of an analyte that is detected in a sample after it has undergone a specific treatment or analytical process compared to its initial amount. This is a crucial concept because it assesses the efficiency and accuracy of the analytical method being used.

Recovery is typically expressed as a percentage, calculated using the formula: (amount detected / initial amount) x 100%. This value helps determine how well the method retrieves the analyte from a sample matrix after it has been processed, which can indicate the reliability of the method and whether any losses occur during sample preparation, extraction, or analysis.

High recovery rates are desirable as they suggest that the method is effective in isolating and quantifying the analyte, while low recovery rates may indicate issues such as loss of analyte or interference from the sample matrix. This is why option B is the correct answer—it directly aligns with the definition and significance of recovery in the context of analytical procedures.