Flame Photometry is also called as flame emission spectroscopy. Flame Photometry is branch of atomic spectroscopy. It is used to detected certain metal ions like sodium,potassium,magenisum etc.

1. Flame Photometry
Dr. Neetu Soni, SHUATS, Prayagraj, UP

2. The principle of flame photometer is based on the
measurement of the emitted light intensity when a metal is
introduced into the flame. The wavelength of the colour
gives information about the element and the colour of the
flame gives information about the amount of the element
present in the sample.

3. The term “flame emission spectrometry” (FES) or “flame
photometry” is an atomic optical emission spectroscopy
technique that uses the flame as the source of atoms excitation.

4. Limitations of flame photometry
Flame photometry cannot be used for the direct determination
of each and every metal atom. A number of metal atoms cannot
be analysed by this method. The elements such as carbon,
hydrogen and halides cannot be detected due to their non-
radiating nature.
Flame Photometry is also called as flame emission spectroscopy.
Flame Photometry is branch of atomic spectroscopy. It is used to
detected certain metal ions like sodium,potassium,magenisum etc.

5. Sample is sprayed into a flame and it converted to droplets. Due to the
thermal energy of the flame the solvent in the droplets evaporate, leaving
behind fine residue, which are converted to neutral atoms. This neutral atoms
are get energy form thermal energy and go exited state but they are unstable
at exited state so they are return to ground state with emission of specific
wave length radiation. The wavelength of the radiation emitted is
characteristic of the elements and is used to identify the elements
(Qualitative Analysis). The intensity of the radiation emitted depends upon the
concentration of the element analysed (Quantiative Analysis).

10. Principle

14. INSTRUMENTATION OF A FLAME PHOTOMETER :-

15. COMPONENTS OF A FLAME PHOTOMETER
•Burner (With fuel and oxidant)
•Filter/Monochromator
•Detector
•Read out device

16. Burner :-
There are different burners available which are used to spray the sample
solution into fine droplet mix with fuel and oxidant so that a homogenous
flame of stable intensity is obtained. The most common ones are mecker
burner, total consumption burner and laminar flow burner.
1. MECKER BURNER
2. TOTAL CONSUMPTION BURNER
3. PREMIX OF LEMINAR
4. LUNDERGRAPH BURNER

18. FILTER / MONOCHROMATOR :-
In simple flame photometer the monochromator is prism but in
expensive models the grating monochromator is used.
Quarts is the material for making prism because it is transparent
over the entire range.
DETECTOR :-
The radiation emitted by the elements is mostly in the visible
region. Hence conventional detectors like photo voltaic cell or
photo tubes can be used. In a flame spectrophotometer,
photomultiplier tube is used as detector.

19. APPLICATION :-
•To estimate sodium, potassium, calcium, lithium etc. level in sample of
serum, urine, CSF and other body fluids.
•Flame photometry is useful for the determination of alkali and alkaline earth
metals.
•Used in determination of lead in petrol.
•Used in the study of equilibrium constants involving in ion exchange resins.
•Used in determination of calcium and magnesium in cement.