ABSTRACT
Optical atomic spectral analysis is the detection (qualitative
analysis) and/or determination (quantitative analysis) of chemical elements within the spectral range from 100 nm
to 1 mm, using the characteristic line spectra of free atoms
in the gaseous state. The term spectroscopy is used both for
the visual observation of spectra and as a general term for
all spectroscopic observation and measurement pro-
cedures. The term spectrometry is related to a direct
photoelectric measurement of radiation using a dispersive
spectral apparatus. Depending on the spectral transition
used, we distinguish between atomic absorption spectro-
metry (AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS),
and optical emission spectrometry (OES). According to
IUPAC recommendation the acronym OES should be
used instead of the ambiguous AES for atomic emission
spectrometry in order to avoid confusion with Auger elec-
tron spectroscopy.
