Atomization of molybdenum in air-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames

The effects of flame stoichiometry, nature of the metal complex or compound, and the solvent on the atomic absorption signal of molybdenum have been investigated. Spatial distributions (profiles) of molybdenum free-atom populations are presented. These profiles were obtained by using various molybdenum compounds or complexes dissolved in aqueous or organic solvents and nebulizing them into unshielded, air-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames of various stoichiometries. The highest free-atom population density (maximum absorbance) was localized in a rather small area of the flame and was obtained only in a highly reducing nitrous oxide-acetylene flame by using organomolybdenum compounds. However, the chemical nature of the organometallic compounds is also important in determining the sensitivity. Equally important was the particular compound or complex-solvent combination employed. This latter aspect was expressed in terms of specific ''enrichment factors'' for the compound or complex-solvent systems studied. (auth)