Spectrographic determination of beryllium in its minerals with a gas-stabilised arc

A gas-stabilised arc in argon is described for the determination of beryllium in its minerals. The analytical procedure used involves the decomposition of the sample by fusing it with sodium fluoride, dissolving the melt, atomising the solution in an argon stream and excitation of the spray.Experimental variables that may influence the results, and the behaviour of some elements as internal standards, are investigated. When molybdenum was used as the internal standard, the coefficient of variation achieved was about 2·5 per cent. The method was checked on some natural and synthetic beryls.