User:BryanHolland/AAS(de)

Atomic spectroscopy (more properly, Atomic spectrometry -- spectroscopy indicates a quantitative analysis, while -metry indicates an analytic procedure including that analysis) is a comprehensive term for spectroscopic procedures used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of elements in a sample. Atomic spectroscopy is a subset of analytical chemistry. One differentiates:
 * Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
 * Flame Atomic Emission Spectrometry (F-AES)
 * Optical ICP Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
 * Optical Emission Spectrometry with sparks and !elbow!???
 * Roentgen??? Fluorescence Spectrometry

AAS (Atomic Absorption)
The atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is a proven, fast method for the quantitative analysis of many metallic and metalloid elements, generally in aqueous solution. One differentiates:
 * F-AAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometry)
 * AP-AAS (graphite furnace AAS)???
 * CV-AAS (Cold Vapor AAS)

Principle
A source of light emits light at specific wavelengths and intensities. In the path of the light is the atomized sample -- individual, energizable atoms susceptible to energization by the light. Atomization may take place through either: 1. Flame (Acetylene/air or Acetylene/Nitrous oxide mixture) into which the analyte is injected -or- 2. Fast, strong heating by an electrical element in a graphite furnace to which a small aliquot of sample was previously added.