Chapter 20, Problem 20.4P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Reason behind background correction as done in emission spectrometer not applicable to absorption spectrometer has to be given.

Concept Introduction:

Besides analyze the sample may contain matrix of other species that might arise from emission, scatter by plasma, furnace or flame. This generates background signal other than specific analyte signal.

Background correction is technique for identification of non-specific absorption and atomic absorption. Basic principle is that net absorption obtained from sum of atomic and background absorption  are measured at two different separate time intervals, that differ by few millisecond. Atomic absorption for analyte is obtained by subtraction of non-specific background absorption from net absorption.