Elemental analysis - Definition

Elemental analysis is a process where a sample of some material (eg. soil, waste or drinking water, bodily fluids) is analyzed for its elemental and sometimes isotopic composition.

Elemental analysis can be accomplished by a number of methods, including:

• Optical atomic spectroscopy, such as flame atomic absorption, graphite furnace atomic absorption, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission, which probe the outer electronic structure of atoms.
• Mass spectrometric atomic spectroscopy, such as inductively coupled mass spectrometry, which probes the mass of atoms.
• Other spectroscopy which probes the inner electronic structure of atoms such as X-ray fluorescence, particle induced x-ray emission, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy.
• Gravimetry, where the sample is dissolved and then the element of interest is precipitated and its mass measured or the element of interest is volitalized and the mass loss is measured.
• Electrochemical methods