Atomic Emission Spectrometry (AES)
The sample is heated at high temperatures in order to atomize it, and to excite the resultant atoms. When returning to the ground state the atoms emit characteristic radiation. The concentration of atoms in the sample determines the amount (intensity) of emitted radiation.
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
A beam of light having a certain wavelength passes through a cloud of atomic gas.
Atoms from the sample absorb a quantity of radiation which depends upon their concentration. The atomic gas is produced by heating the sample in an atomizer, where the atomization takes place. The heat is used only to atomize the sample, so the temperatures are smaller than in AES
Click here to continue