Introduction

In the 1980s, Bowling Barnes, David Richardson, John Berry and Robert Hood developed tools

to measure low levels of sodium and potassium in solution. They call this instrument a Logi light

meter. The principle of a flame light meter is based on measuring the amount of light emitted

when the metal enters the flame. The wavelength of the color gives information about the

element and the color of the flame gives information about the amount of element present in the

sample.

Flame Photometry:
Flame photometry is one of the directions of atomic absorption spectroscopy. This is also known

as flame emission spectroscopy. Today it has become a necessary tool in the field of analytical

chemistry. Flame Photometry can be used to determine the concentration of metal ions such as

sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, cesium, etc. In photometric ignition spectra, metal ions are

used in the form of atoms. The Committee on Spectroscopic Nomenclature of the International

Union of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) called this method of atomic-plasma

emission spectrometry (FAES).

The Principle of The Flame Photometer

Alkaline compounds and alkaline earth metals (Group II) dissolve in atoms when introduced into

a flame. Some of these atoms become more excited to a higher level. But these atoms are

unstable at higher levels.

Thus, these atoms emit radiation when they return to their ground state. This radiation is

generally found in the visible region of the spectrum. Each of the alkali and alkaline earth metals

has a specific wavelength.

 Emitted Flame
Element wavelength color

Sodium 589 nm Yellow

Potassium 766 nm Violet

Barium 554 nm Lime green

Calcium 622 nm Orange

Lithium 670 nm Red

For certain concentration ranges,

Emissions into food are directly proportional to the number of atoms returned to earth. Agus is

one of the most familiar friends for silence and warmth .

Parts of a Flaming Photometer

A simple flame photometer has the following main components:

Flame source: photo of the flame source. Je can be kept at a constant temperature. Flame
temperature is one of the critical factors in flame photometer.

Fuel-Oxidant mixture Temperature (°C)

Natural gas-Air 1700
Propane-Air 1800
Hydrogen-Air 2000
Hydrogen-Oxygen 2650
Acetylene-Air 2300
Acetylene-Oxygen 3200
Acetylene-Nitrous oxide 2700
Cyanogen-Oxygen 4800

Nebulizer: Nebulizer is used to deliver a homogeneous solution into the flame at a balanced
rate.
Optical System: The optical system consists of a convex mirror and a convex lens. Convex
mirrors transmit light emitted by atoms. Convex mirrors help focus emission on the lens. Lenses

help focus light on a point or hemisphere.

Color Filters Are Simple: the reflection of the mirror passes through the slots and reaches
the filter. The filter will measure the wavelength to be measured from irrelevant emissions.

Photodetectors: photodetectors measure the intensity of radiation emitted by a flame. The

emitted radiation is converted into an electrical signal here with the help of a photocatalyst. This

electrical signal is directly proportional to the intensity of the light.

Working Procedure:
 The standard stock solution and the sample solution are prepared in fresh distilled water.

 The photometer flame is calibrated by adjusting the air and gas. The flame is then left to

stabilize for about 5 minutes.

 At this point the instrument is turned on and the lids of the filter chamber are opened to

insert the appropriate colored filters.

 Galvanometer readings are adjusted to zero by spraying distilled water into the flame.

 Sensitivity is adjusted by spraying the most concentrated standard working solution over

the flame. The full scale deflection of the galvanometer is now recorded.

 Again distilled water is sprayed into the flame to obtain stable readings from a

galvanometer. The galvanometer is then reset to zero.

 Now each of the standard working solutions is sprayed into the flame three times and the

galvanometer readings are recorded. After each spray, the device must be thoroughly

washed.

 Finally, the sample solution is sprayed three times into the flame and the galvanometer

readings are recorded. After each spray, the device must be thoroughly washed.

 Calculate the average galvanometer reading.

 Plot the concentration against the galvanometer reading to find the concentration of the

element in the sample.

 The oxidants in flame photometers are mainly air, oxygen or nitrous oxide. Flame

temperature depends on the relationship between fuel and oxidant.

 Calculate the average reading of the galvanometer.

 Plot the concentration versus the galvanometer reading to find the concentration of the

element in the sample.

The oxidants in flame photometers are mainly air, oxygen or nitrous oxide. The flame

temperature depends on the fuel and the oxidation ratio.

The processes that occur during flame photometer analysis are summarized below:

DE Solvation: Desalination is the drying of a sample in solution. The metal particles in the
solvent are dehydrated by the flame and then the solvent evaporates.

Vaporization: the metal particles in the sample are also dehydrated. This also leads to
evaporation of the solvent.

Atomization: An atom is the separation of all atoms in a chemical. The flame reduces the
metal ions in the sample to metal atoms.
Stimulation: The electrostatic attraction force between the electrons and the nucleus of the
atom helps them absorb a certain amount of energy. Then the atoms jump to the excited higher

energy state.

Emission: Since the highest energy state is unstable, the atoms return to the ground state or
low energy state to achieve stability. This atomic jump emits radiation with characteristic

wavelengths. The copier measures the radiation.

Element Emitted wavelength Flame color

Potassium K 766nm Violet

Lithium Li 670 nm Red

Calcium Ca 622nm Orange

Sodium Na 589nm Yellow

Barium Ba 554nm Line green

Flame photometer function

 A flame photometer can be applied for quantitative and qualitative analysis of elements.

The radiation emitted by the flame photometer is characteristic of a certain metal. Then,

with the help of a flame photometer, we can detect the presence of a particular element in

the particular sample.

  The presence of some group II elements is essential for soil health. We can determine if

the soil sample contains different alkali and alkaline clay metals by performing a flame

test and then we can provide a specific soil fertilizer.

 The concentration of Na + and K + ions is very important in the human body to perform

various metabolic functions. Their concentration can be determined by diluting and

inhaling serum blood samples on flame.

 Soft drinks, fruit juices and alcoholic beverages can also be analyzed using flame

photometry to determine the concentration of various metals and elements.

Advantages of a Flame Photometer

 The analysis method is very simple and inexpensive.

 It is a fast, convenient, selective and sensitive analysis.

 Both is qualitative and quantitative.

 Very low concentrations (parts per million / ppm to parts per billion / ppb) of metals in

the sample can also be determined.

 This method compensates for any sudden interference present in the sample solution.

 This method can be used to evaluate items that are rarely analyzed.

Disadvantages of a flame photometer

 Despite the many advantages, this analysis technique has several disadvantages:

 The exact concentration of metal ions in the solution cannot be measured.

 It cannot directly detect and determine the presence of inert gases.

 Although this technique measures the total metal content of the sample, it does not

provide information on the molecular structure of the metal in the sample.

 Only liquid samples can be used. Also, in some cases, sample preparation takes a long

time.

 Flame photometry cannot be used to directly determine all metal atoms. Some metal

atoms cannot be analyzed with this method. Elements such as carbon, hydrogen, and

halides cannot be detected due to their non-radiative nature.