Atomic Absorption/Atomic Emission In Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy, or AA, a liquid sample is aspirated and atomized
into a high-temperature flame. Light of a specific wavelength
characteristic to the metal of interest, provided by a hollow
cathode lamp, is passed through the flame containing the
atomized sample. The corresponding metal atoms in the flame
absorb the light, resulting in a quantitative reduction of the
light reaching the detector. This measured absorption can then
be used to accurately determine the specific metal content of
the sample solution. Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, or AE, is
similar to Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy as described above.
However, no external light source is used. In Atomic Emission
Spectroscopy, electrons of the atoms of interest are promoted to
excited states in the flame and emit their characteristic
radiation as they return to the ground state. The emission
intensity at the characteristic wavelength is proportional to
the concentration of the element in the sample.