Study of the matrix effect of easily and non-easily ionizable elements in inductively coupled argon plasma. Part 2. Equilibrium plasma composition

The matrix effect of easily and non-easily ionizable elements in an inductively coupled argon plasma is discussed in relation to the equilibrium plasma composition. The calculation procedure, based on the minimization of free energy, was applied in the temperature range 1000–9000 K, assuming the state of chemical equilibrium. The calculations were performed for ‘pure’ argon with water vapour and with the addition of Li, Ba and Zn. The influence of matrix elements on the emission intensities of Ca and Cd as analytes was also investigated.