This document discusses flame photometry, which is an emission spectroscopy technique used to detect alkali and alkaline earth metals. It works by measuring the intensity of light emitted when a metal sample is introduced into a flame. The key components of a flame photometry instrument are the sample delivery system, mirrors, monochromator, slit/filter, detector, and recorder. The sample is atomized in the flame and the emitted light is filtered to the desired wavelength before being converted to an electrical signal that is recorded, allowing for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the metal present.