Flame emission spectroscopy is a destructive chemical analysis technique that observes energy emitted by excited atoms returning to their ground state. The method identifies spectral signatures of different elements with a sensitive detector. The process involves creating a sample aerosol or placing a small sample in a holder in the flame. The emission is magnified to match known samples, and automated computer systems can identify likely candidates. Graphs of results can be used for comparison and equipment calibration.
Flame emission spectroscopy is a chemical analysis technique based on the observation of the energy emitted when excited atoms return to their ground state. Atoms associated with different elements have their own distinct spectral signatures which can be identified with a highly sensitive detector. This method of materials analysis is destructive in nature, but can provide important information about the components of an unknown sample of a compound or solution.
The first step is the sample aerosol. To do this, a fine spray of the sample material can be pumped through a flame, where the heat excites the atoms, causing them to fall back to their ground state. This causes an energy loss and a characteristic energy emission. A detector detects the wavelengths of light emitted and records them for the benefit of the operator. This information can be printed and digitally stored in a file.
Some compounds have very distinctive signatures that may be visible to the naked eye in flame emission spectroscopy, especially if the sample is large. Instead of an aerosol, some test methods require the technician to place a small sample in a holder that can be placed in the flame, which will create a very noticeable emission. Copper, for example, burns from bright green to blue, depending on the impurities present. Chemistry teachers can use these recognizable compounds in classroom demonstrations to show students how the process works and to illustrate the various spectral emissions of different elements.
The differences between other compounds can be more subtle, especially when there are more elements in a sample. The flame emission spectroscopy process magnifies the emission and allows the operator to revise it at will to match known samples. People may look for specific bands of light that can be telltale signs of the presence of particular elements. Automated computer systems can also do this matching themselves and return a list of likely candidates to the user.
Graphs of flame emission spectroscopy results are available for comparison with the samples under analysis. These can also be used for equipment calibration. To calibrate, the technician takes a known sample and runs it through the process, comparing the end result to the graph. If the emissions don’t match, there could be something wrong with the equipment. The equipment may need maintenance, cleaning, etc. to function properly and return valid results to the user.
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