Chapter 10, Problem 10.8QAP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason for the ionization interferences to be less severe in ICP than in flame emission spectroscopy needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

ICP (Inductively coupled plasma) spectroscopy is a kind of mass spectrometry that detects metals as well as non-metals of low concentrations as one part in 10¹⁵ (part per quadrillion, ppq) on the low-background isotopes. Flame emission spectroscopy is a traditional method of spectroscopy. In this method, quantitative measurement of the optical emission obtained from the stimulated atoms are used to determine the concentration of an element that is to be analyzed. Ionization interference can be defined as a phenomenon which exhibits a change in emission intensity resulting in the ionization equilibrium to shift in presence of other coexisting elements.