Manual of Spectroscopy

CONTENTS -
Preface -
I. History and Theory of Spectroscopy -
1. Historical Review -
2. The Atom in Spectroscopy -
II. Light Sources -
1. The Electric Arc -
2. The Spark -
III. Spectroscopes -
1. Optical Systems -
2. Industrial Spectrographs -
3. Spectroscope Construction -
IV. Spectroscopic Analysis -
1. Qualitative Analysis -
2. Determinations -
3. Quantitative Analysis -
V. The Spectroscope in Mineralogy -
1. Tests Used in Mineral Identification -
2. Application of the Spectroscope in Mineral Classification -
VI. Characteristic Lines of the Elements -
VII. Wave-Length Table-Chart -
Appendix -
Conversion Table -
Bibliography -
Firms Selling Spectrographic Materials -
Index -
PREFACE -
Too many chemists, mineral collectors, prospectors, and even
ass ayers struggle with tedious chemical and uncertain Hame and
blowpipe tests when a spectroscope would give far more prompt
results. With electricity universally available, and with present day
instruments and parts so low in cost, spectroscopic equipment
should be in every school and laboratory.
This book has been written to assist those who wish to analyze
ores, minerals, alloys, and inorganic chemicals, or wish to teach
others to do so. In the qualitative analysis of such materials, there
is no instrument so rapid and accurate as the spectroscope, although
the analyst must remain within its limits of operation. This
is also true of the quantitative analysis of these materials. Although
speed comes only after some experience, one may very soon
acquire the necessary technique for accurate determinations. The
author has attempted to point out some of the short cuts to quick
spectroscopic success. Direct methods of burning samples are
shown; the key lines of each element have been selected, and a new
chart-table has been prepared which shows both the spacing of
spectral lines and their wave-lengths. An increasing number of
schools and universities have courses in spectroscopy, and many
industrial plants use spectrographic equipment to speed up the
solution of their special problems of analysis.
The bulk and cost of spectroscopes tend to increase in geometric
ratio with efficiency, and thus the price of a commercially
built high-dispersion instrument is usually beyond the reach of
the individual analyst. The parts necessary to make a powerful
instrument are few and the essential construction is very simple.
The writer believes that instructions for making effective instruments
at costs so low as to be within the reach of all, will be
appreciated. One section of the book has, therefore, been devoted
to such instructions. Largely from his own experience, but also
from the literature (see bibliography) a considerable amount of
material has been arranged in what is hoped will be helpful form.