Some observations on the determination of mercury by atomic-absorption spectroscopy in an air-acetylene flame

Abstract

The sensitivity obtained for mercury at 2537 Å in atomic-absorption spectroscopy in air-acetylene is greatly influenced by the valency state of mercury in the sample solution. Greater sensitivity is obtained for mercury(I) than for mercury(II), and further increase in sensitivity results when reducing and complexing agents are added to mercury(I) solutions. An explanation of this effect based on the disproportionation of mercury(I) into mercury(II) and elemental mercury is given.