Factors Influencing Characteristic Mass in the Graphite Furnace

Measurements of characteristic masses for Ag, Cd, Cr, Ga, Ge, and In have been made over a broad temperature range. The experimental results show that the experimental values of m₀ have appeared to be stable to better than 10–15% when the analytes are atomized in the temperature ranges studied. Influences of atomization temperatures on the ratio m₀(calc)/m₀(exp) were studied when the analytes were evaporated from the wall, with the use of the platform and the V-shaped boat techniques. For Ag and Cd the ratio m₀(calc)/m₀(exp) does not change significantly, and their values appeared to be nearly 100% in the temperature ranges studied when the analytes were evaporated with the use of the platform and the V-shaped boat techniques. However, for the remaining four elements (Cr, Ga, Ge, and In) the ratio m₀(calc)/m₀(exp) increases with the rise of atomization temperatures, and their values appear to be only about 20–50% in the absence of a matrix modifier. However, the ratio m₀(calc)/m₀(exp) is obviously increased in the presence of a matrix modifier.