Non-atomic absorption from matrix salts volatilized from graphite atomizers in atomic absorption spectrometry

The non-atomic absorption signals obtained from alkali halides atomized from three types of graphite atomizer are examined. The wavelength dependence of the signals identifies the absorption as that of charge-transfer transitions of the alkali halide molecules. The contribution of light scattering to the total non-atomic absorption signal is shown to be of small significance; the observed light-scattering is not Rayleigh scattering. The temperature dependence of the loss of sodium chloride from a rod atomizer is studied experimentally and compared with calculated vaporization rates based on the kinetic theory of gases.