- Simultaneous multielement analysis

- Quantitative and qualitative analysis for over 70 elements with detection limits in the parts per billion (ng/mL) to parts per million (g/mL) range

- Determination of major, minor, and trace elemental components

- Composition of metal alloys

- Trace impurities in alloys, metals, reagents, and solvents

- Analysis of geological, environmental, and biological materials

- Water analysis

- Process control

- Form: Liquids, gases, and solids; liquids are most common

- Size: 5 to 50 mL of solution, 10 to 500 mg of solids

- Preparation: Most samples are analyzed as solutions; solutions can be analyzed as received, diluted, or preconcentrated as required; solids must usually be dissolved to form solutions; gases may be analyzed directly

- Detection limits parts per billion to parts per million

- Cannot analyze for noble gases

- Halogens and some nonmetals require vacuum spectrometer and optics

- Sensitivity poor for alkali elements, especially rubidium; cannot determine cesium

- Dissolution of solids in sample preparation may require up to 16 h

- Analysis may require minutes to several hours

- Direct-current arc emission spectrography: Samples may be analyzed directly as solids; sensitivity and quantitative precision poorer; longer analysis time required

- Atomic absorption spectroscopy: Single-element analysis; better sensitivity for most elements, especially by using electrothermal atomization, but not as good for refractory elements; more limited dynamic range