For practical purposes, it doesn’t really make any difference which term you use. The difference between spectroscopy and spectrometry is that spectroscopy is the study of how energy and materials interact, while spectrometry refers to how you apply this as a measuring technique. Note: AAS is also referred to as atomic absorption spectrometry. Typical calibration curve for an element measured by AAS Therefore, using AAS, you can measure for a specific element in a material, based on the amount of light absorbed at a defined wavelength, which corresponds to the known characteristics of the element you are testing for. These atoms will each have their own characteristics when it comes to absorbing energy because each element has a unique electronic structure. The atomic part refers to the atoms in a material, which will absorb radiated energy from a light source. Matter absorbs energy, which will create some sort of change in its state. Spectroscopy is the study of how radiated energy and materials interact. View AAS products from Scimed What is Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy? Here we look at what AAS involves as an analytical technique, what it can measure, why it is useful, and the instruments involved in carrying it out. It gives a picture of what concentrations of a specific element there is in whatever material, or liquid, is being tested. Atomic absorption spectroscopy, or AAS, is a technique for measuring the concentrations of metallic elements in different materials.Īs an analytical technique, it uses electromagnetic wavelengths, coming from a light source.ĭistinct elements will absorb these wavelengths differently.

Absorption spectra definition chemistry