Question

The purpose of  an ionisation suppressant in atomic absorption spectroscopy is

Answer 1

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is the technique used to identify the atom using absorption of radiation by atom in gas phase. In atomic absorption spectroscopy, population of ground state element may change due to ionization of atoms which affect the intensity of signal. This occur in hot flame, the energy of flame excite the ground state atom into ionic state by loss of electron resulting in depletion of ground state atom and the element does not absorb correct wavelength. Thus ionization suppressant is added which is easily ionized and thereby creating large number of electrons in flame which suppress the ionization of atom and thus we get correct wavelength and intensity of signal.