The standard chemical methods used for the analysis of modern mortars and cements are good only for comparative purposes. Furthermore, expressing the results in the standardized oxide form does not yield enough information. A simplified chemical analysis system based on only five different determinations expresses the results as a function of mineralogical types: (1) determination of total silica by the flux method, (2) determination of CO₂, (3) determination of the insoluble residue in and MG⁺⁺, and (5) determination of free lime. By means of a set of three equations and the use of some conversion factors estimated from the expected compounds formed during the setting of the mortar, the results can be expressed in terms of the presence of hydraulic components, non-hydraulic components, calcium carbonate, quartz and free lime.