ASH (ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY)

In analytical chemistry, 'Ash' is the name given to all compounds that are not considered organic or water. These are the compounds that remain (as "ashes") after a sample is burned, and consist mostly of metal oxides.
Ash is one of the components in the proximate analysis of biological materials, consisting mainly of salty, non-organic constituents. It includes metal salts which are important for processes requiring ions such as Na⁺ (Sodium), K⁺ (Potassium), Ca⁺ (Calcium). It also includes trace minerals which are required for unique molecules, such as chlorophyll and hemoglobin.
For instance, the analysis of honey shows:
;Typical Honey Analysis

★ Fructose: 38%

★ Glucose: 31%

★ Sucrose: 1%

★ Water: 17%

★ Other sugars: 9% (maltose, melezitose)

★ Ash: 0.17%
:Source: Sugar Alliance
In this example the Ash would include all the minerals in honey.
Also see:

★ oxides, e.g. Al₂O₃, CaO, Fe₂O₃, MgO, MnO, P₂O₅, K₂O, SiO₂

★ carbonates: Na₂CO₃ (aka soda ash), K₂CO₃ (aka potash),

★ bicarbonates, e.g. NaHCO₃ (aka baking soda),

★ Sulfates: sulfate ash according to Ph. Eur.