This document specifies methods for the determination of the presence of colourless chromate conversion coatings, the presence of hexavalent chromium in colourless and coloured coatings on zinc or cadmium or aluminium-zinc (mass fraction of aluminium: 55 %, within a range of 54 % to 56 % mass fraction) and zinc-aluminium (mass fraction of aluminium: 5 %) alloys, the total chromium content per unit area on zinc and cadmium, the mass per unit area of both colourless and coloured coatings, the satisfactory adhesion of chromate conversion coatings, and the quality of chromate coatings. These methods are applicable to colourless and coloured chromate conversion coatings containing trivalent and hexavalent chromium in varying proportions and produced by either chemical or electrochemical processes, and only to chromate coatings that are free from any supplementary coatings, such as oil, water or solvent-based polymers or wax.