The general expression Qualitative Analysis [...] refers to analyses in which substances are identified or classified on the basis of their chemical or physical properties, such as chemical reactivity, solubility, molecular weight, melting point, radiative properties (emission, absorption), mass spectra, nuclear half-life, etc. Quantitative Analysis refers to analyses in which the amount or concentration of an analyte may be determined (estimated) and expressed as a numerical value in appropriate units. Qualitative Analysis may take place with Quantitative Analysis, but Quantitative Analysis requires the identification (qualification) of the analyte for which numerical estimates are given.
— International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Nomenclature in evaluation of analytical methods including detection and quantification capabilities, Pure Appl. Chem. 67(10), p. 1701 (1995)
An example of quantitative analysis would be working out the amount of sulfate in a fertiliser and an example of qualitative analysis would be observing what occurs when salt is added to water.
