As time has
passed over the years and with the advancement in knowledge and technology, all
sciences including chemistry has witnessed major changes. Gone are the days
when scientists would completely rely on stones and magic to not only learn
about elements and compounds, but also to change elements and compounds into
various metals and objects. With the advancement in technology, scientists can
now not only study elements and compounds regularly, but also abstract, dissect
and even experiment with them frequently. In fact, nowadays, there are many
different types of techniques, equipment and gadgets that help scientists and
individuals to easily conduct experiments and analyze compounds and elements in
minutes rather than months.
One of the most
popular and common techniques that is frequently used by scientists nowadays is
the graphite furnace atomic absorption
technique. Although, this technique is
quite similar to the atomic absorption spectrometer technique as it works on
the principle of light, it primarily uses graphite to analyze the compounds and
elements. In this technique, scientists often heat the graphite refractory at
high temperatures so that it can emit atoms, which are later analyzed. However
in the atomic absorption technique, scientists use light and monochromatic
waves to analyze compounds. While, both the techniques can effectively provide
analysis of compounds, the graphite technique provides more clearer and
accurate results. The only drawback of this technique is that it is quite time
consuming as it can only analyze five to six compounds at a stretch.
Another common gadget that is
frequently used by scientists is the mercury analyzer. This gadget is
primarily used by companies working in the sewage treatment segment and by
various petrochemical refineries. With this device, individuals can easily
identify the presence of high levels of mercury in gas or liquid streams,
thereby, enabling the individual to remove any excess mercury present in sludge
or crude oil. In the test of mercury levels, the samples are first placed
within a sampling tube and are then treated with thermal and chemicals, which
leads to identifying the levels of mercury. The entire process is often known
as Atomic Absorption Spectrometer.
By identifying and removing high levels of mercury, companies also prevent
various side-effects, such as ailments and poisoning from occurring in human
beings and also protect the rivers and oceans from becoming contaminated. It is
for this reason that mercury analyzers have become so popular among various
companies in today’s world.
