WRITTEN REPORT

IN
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

SUBMITTED BY:
JUDELYN JARITO
BS CHEMISTRY 4

SUBMITTED TO:
MA. LOURDES ALVAREZ, PhD.

ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

INTRODUCTION
Atomic absorption measures the amount of light at the resonant wavelength
which is absorbed as it passes through in a cloud of atoms. As the number of atoms in
the light path increases, the amount of light absorbed increases in a predictable way.
The technique is used for determining the concentration of a particular element
(analyte) in a sample to be analyzed. Atomic absorption is so sensitive that it can
measure down to parts per billion of a gram in a sample.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To define what is Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
2. To know the history of AAS
3. To know the application of AAS

WHAT IS ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY?

 Is a quantitative method of analysis that is applicable to many metals and a few
non-metals.
 It also measures the concentration of metals in the sample.
 It quantifies the absorption of ground state atoms in the gaseous state.
 It can analyze over 62 elements.

INSTRUMENTATION OF ATOMIC ABSORBTION SPECTROSCOPY

  HOLLOW CATHODE LAMP- a large voltage across anode & cathode causes
the inert gas to ionize & form a plasma.

 NEBULISER- forms a mist or aerosol of the sample.

 MONOCHROMATOR- used to select the specific wavelength of light which is

absorbed by the sample, and to exclude other wavelengths.

 DETECTOR- the light selected by the monochromator is directed into a

photomultiplier tube, whose function is to convert the light signal into an electrical
signal proportional to the light intensity.

HISTORY OF ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

 Atomic theory began with JOHN DALTON in the 18th century when he proposed
the concept of atoms, that all atoms of an element are identical, and that atoms
of different elements can combine to form molecules.
 ROBERT BUNSEN and GUSTAV KIRCHHOFF studied the sodium spectrum
and came to the conclusion that every element has its own unique spectrum that
can be used to identify elements in the vapor phase.
 The first atomic absorption spectrometer was presented by ALAN WALSH and
co-workers in Melbourne in 1954.

APPLICATION OF ATOMIC ABSORBTION SPECTROSCOPY

CLINICAL ANALYSIS- analyzing metals in biological fluids such as blood and urine.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS- monitoring our environment- e.g finding out the levels
of various elements in rivers, seawater, drinking water, air, petrol, and drinks.