University of Wisconsin - Stout

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

Measures the amount of radiant energy absorbed as a function of wavelength or frequency. Ultraviolet radiant energy can be employed as the source of incident radiant energy, and it has been found that certain groupings of atoms in organic compounds influence the intensity and location of the absorption bands in the ultimate spectrum, which is helpful in identifying certain compounds with this technique by comparing absorption spectrums and their correlations.

They use the absorption of light to measure the concentration of gas-phase atoms. The samples (usually liquids or solids) must first be vaporized in a flame or a graphite furnace.