Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
Thermal and Atomic Methods (Intro) · Chemistry
Bohr atom
Interactive 3DElectrons orbit the nucleus in shells — switch element to see H, He and Li fill their shells.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
Study notes
Why does AAS need a different lamp for each element? Step 1: AAS measures absorption by ground-state atoms at characteristic wavelengths. Step 2: Each element absorbs its own resonance lines (Na: 589 nm). Step 3: Hollow cathode lamp (made of that element) emits exactly those lines. Step 4: Element-specific light → element-specific measurement — one lamp per element!