Atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Here sample solution is aspirated into a flame and the sample element is converted to atomic vapour. Now the flame contains atoms of the sample element. There are two types of atoms. One occupying ground state which can absorb radiation of a particular wavelength. Other type is thermally excited. Here absorbance is directly proportional to the flame pathlength and atomic vapour concentration. The major disadvantage of this method requirement of different sources for different elements. The major components of this device are a light source, the flame, a monochromator and a detector. The flame is placed between the source and the monochromator. Hollow cathode lamp is the source used here. Other components used here are premix chamber burner, laminar flow burner and a cell.