Atomic absorption spectroscopy

Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument
A scientist preparing solutions for atomic absorption spectroscopy, reflected in the glass window of the AAS's flame atomizer cover door

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is an elemental analysis method for determining the concentration of metals in a given sample.

The principle of AAS relies on the vaporization of metals within a sample when introduced to a flame. Every ground state metal absorbs light radiation (and excites) at a different wavelength. This uniqueness allows each metallic element to have its own absorption spectrum that corresponds to its identity. The total absorbed radiation at a specific wavelength by an element in the sample is proportional to the density of atoms of the element. The quantification of this relationship is used to determine the concentration of specific metals in the sample.

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