Explain the principles and instrumentation in flame photometry.

Answer 1

Flame photometry is a technique used to determine the concentration of certain elements by measuring the intensity of emitted light from a flame. The principles of flame photometry are based on the fact that when certain elements are introduced into a flame, they will emit characteristic wavelengths of light. This emitted light can be measured and used to calculate the concentration of the element in the sample.

The instrumentation used in flame photometry typically consists of a flame burner, a nebulizer, a monochromator, and a detector. The sample is introduced into the flame burner where it is nebulized and mixed with a fuel gas (usually acetylene) and an oxidant gas (usually air). The resulting flame produces light that is then passed through a monochromator, which consists of a diffraction grating that disperses the light into its component wavelengths. The detector then measures the intensity of the emitted light at the specific wavelength associated with the element of interest.

By comparing the intensity of the emitted light to a calibration curve, which relates the concentration of the element to the intensity of the emitted light, the concentration of the element in the sample can be determined. This allows for the quantitative analysis of elements such as sodium, potassium, and calcium in a variety of samples.

Overall, flame photometry is a sensitive and relatively simple technique for the determination of certain elements in a sample based on their emission of characteristic wavelengths of light in a flame.