Flame photometer is a device used in inorganic chemical analysis to determine the concentration of certain metal ions such as Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium & Barium (Li, Na, K, Ca & Ba). This relies on the principle that an alkali metal salt drawn into a non-luminous flame will ionise, absorb energy from the flame and then emit light of a characteristic wavelength as the excited atoms decay to the unexcited ground state. The intensity of emission is proportional to the concentration of the element in the solution. The essential parts of flame photometer are flame atomizer which converts the sample into excited atomic species, monochromator which to isolate light of the wavelength to be measured from that of extraneous emissions, photo-detector which helps to measure the intensity of radiation emitted by the flame and amplifier and readout device which is used to amplify the signal and provides suitable out put on a readout device.

Applications

• Used in industries like food, fertilizer, oil, paper and pharmaceuticals