To determine the concentration of an element in a sample you have to follow these steps:
- Measure the intensity of the instrument signal for a series of solutions having known concentrations;
- Plot the intensity against the concentration:
- Measure the intensity given by the sample;
- Determine the concentration of the sample using the calibration plot.
Usually these instruments are computer controlled - that really makes the operator's life easier. He has only to prepare the solutions used for obtaining the calibration curve and enter their concentrations into the computers memory. Also he must offer the samples to the instrument if it is not able to take them automatically. In the case of atomic absorption spectrometry he has to select the lamp which emits the spectral lines of the element being analysed.
Don't believe everything you've read above: depending on the instrument and the computer's software the operator must perform some supplementary actions. If you want to use an instrument the best thing you can do is to read the users guide first.
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