Determination of submicrogram quantities of mercury by Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) (CAT#: STEM-ST-0157-WXH)

Introduction

Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is known to be liquid at standard temperature and pressure.
Mercury poisoning can result from exposure to water-soluble forms of mercury (such as mercuric chloride or methylmercury), by inhalation of mercury vapor, or by ingesting any form of mercury. In serious form, it is also known as Minamata disease. Mercury poisoning is intensified with lead co-exposures. Concurrent mercury and lead exposures are considered one risk factor for autism.

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Principle Applications Procedure Materials Notes Related Products

Principle

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) detects elements in either liquid or solid samples through the application of characteristic wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from a light source.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is based upon the principle that free atoms in the ground state can absorb light of a certain wavelength. Absorption for each element is specific, no other elements absorb this wavelength.

Applications

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is an easy, high-throughput, and inexpensive technology used primarily to analyze elements in solution. As such, AAS is used in food and beverage, water, clinical research, and pharmaceutical analysis.

Procedure

1. Creating a steady state of freely dissociated ground state atoms using a heat source (flame)
2. Passing light of a specific wavelength through the flame. The wavelength corresponds to the amount of energy required to excite an electron from (typically) the ground to first excited state for a specific element.
3. Measuring the amount of the light absorbed by the atoms as they move to the excited state (the atomic absorption).
4. Using the measured absorbance to calculate the concentration of the element in a solution, based on a calibration graph.

Materials

• Spectrometer
• Radiation sources
• Atomizers
• Atomic absorption
• Spectrophotometer

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