Selection of a Spectrometer

The choice of a spectrometer depends on its intended use. Most present-day instruments use a grating as the spectral dispersing element. A wide variety of excellent gratings is currently available. They are supplied with certification as to their precision, blaze efficiency, and freedom from ghost lines, and are generally of high quality. 

Some of the questions that should be answered before selecting a spectrometer for emission spectrochemical analysis are the following. 

Is the spectrometer to be used entirely for repetitive, routine analysis, or is it also to serve a research purpose  

What type of samples are to be analyzed, i.e., solutions, solids, metals, soils, biological materials  

Many spectrometers are available as packaged units. For example, small emission spectrographs are available as complete units including power source, arc-spark stand, etc. Those units used as direct readers include 

---

It is not possible to detail all the factors involved in the selection of a spectrometer, but the above short discussion should serve to focus attention on many of the more important questions. 

---