Atomic Emission Spectrometry with Inductively Coupled Plasma Excitation ICP-AES

8 Atomic Emission Spectrometry with Inductively Coupled Plasma Excitation (ICP-AES) 

A solid state of aggregation is no longer possible above 6000 C. At such temperatures, states occur which can be described as plasma in the widest sense of the word. Plasma is characterized by the fact that electrically charged particles are created by the breaking up of gas molecules - a 

For atoms to ionize, a specific energy, the so-called ionization potential, must first be applied. This energy must furthermore be fed to the atom itself. The ionization potential is expressed in electron-volts (eV). The value for the majority of elements lies between 4 and 25 electron-volts. 

In emission spectrometry, plasmas have the task of exciting the atoms to be measured to emission. Plasma is in principle an electrically conductive, fluid system in predominantly gaseous matter. The properties of a plasma are determined by the charge carriers already mentioned and by its quasineutrality, as the plasma has an overall electrically neutral effect when observed for a longer period of time. 

A gas is fed through a system of quartz tubes whose shape facilitates flow 

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