Editing Atomic absorption spectroscopy (section)

{{short description|Type of spectroanalytical procedure}}{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}{{Copy edit|date=March 2025}}}}
[[File:FlammenAAS.jpg|thumb|300px|Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument]]
[[File:A scientist preparing solutions for AAS.jpg|thumb|A scientist preparing solutions for atomic absorption spectroscopy, reflected in the glass window of the AAS's flame atomizer cover door]]

'''Atomic absorption spectroscopy''' ('''AAS''') is a spectro-analytical procedure for the quantitative measurement of [[chemical elements]]. AAS is based on the absorption of light by free metallic ions that have been atomized from a sample. An alternative technique is [[atomic emission spectroscopy]] ('''AES''').  

In analytical chemistry, the technique is used for determining the concentration of a particular element (the analyte) in a sample to be analyzed. AAS can be used to determine over 70 different elements in solution, or directly in solid samples via electrothermal vaporization,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TAS-990 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer-纳米材料工程研究中心 |url=https://ercn.henu.edu.cn/info/1452/2665.htm |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=ercn.henu.edu.cn}}</ref> and is used in [[pharmacology]], [[biophysics]],
[[archaeology]] and [[toxicology]] research.

Atomic emission spectroscopy (AAS) was first used as an analytical technique, and the underlying principles were established in the second half of the 19th century by [[Robert Wilhelm Bunsen]] and [[Gustav Robert Kirchhoff]], both professors at the [[University of Heidelberg]], Germany.<ref name="CHF">{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/robert-bunsen-and-gustav-kirchhoff |title=Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff |work=Science History Institute |access-date=20 March 2018 }}</ref>

The modern form of AAS was largely developed during the 1950s by a team of Australian chemists. They were led by [[Alan Walsh (physicist)|Sir Alan Walsh]] at the [[Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation]] (CSIRO), Division of Chemical Physics, in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000860b.htm |title=Walsh, Alan - Biographical entry |author=McCarthy, G.J. |publisher=Encyclopedia of Australian Science |access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="Koirtyohann1991">{{cite journal|last1=Koirtyohann|first1=S. R.|title=A History of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry|journal=Analytical Chemistry|volume=63|issue=21|year=1991|pages=1024A–1031A|issn=0003-2700|doi=10.1021/ac00021a716}}</ref>