Quantities and Units in Clinical Chemistry: Nebulizer and Flame Properties in Flame Emission and Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

A classification of quantitative concepts, a unification of nomenclature and suggestions for the introduction and implementation of recommended units for quantities relating to the nebulizer and flame components of emission and absorption spectrometers are presented. The purpose is to provide users of this form of instrumentation for clinical chemical determinations with a complete, systematic description of the quantities involved in the use of the instruments, so that the data generated from such instruments for patient care purposes is applied correctly. For all quantities listed, the kind of quantity, the symbol for the kind of quantity and a practical unit, the systematic name, the system and the component, and the definition of the quantity are given. Nebulizer quantities defined include the minimum nebulization time, to ensure the analysis provides data of require precision, the efficiency of nebulization and of atomization, and the fractions of a component desolvated. volatilized and atomized are distinguished. Flame properties defined include temperature, observation height, path length and volume, and the times taken for the component to travel through the flame compared to the observation space are characterized. Finally, quantities for gas flow rates through the flame are listed. © 1986 IUPAC