Standard Methods: 3500-Na B: Sodium by Flame Emission Photometry

Summary
Analytes
Revisions
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

3500-Na B. Flame Emission Photometric Method

Current Revision

Standard Methods Online

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

Flame Emission

Method Subcategory

Inorganic

Method Source

Standard Methods

Citation

Standard Methods Online - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater

Brief Method Summary

Trace amounts of sodium can be determined by flame emission photometry at a wavelength of 589 nm. Sample is nebulized into a gas flame under carefully controlled, reproducible excitation conditions. The sodium resonant spectral line at 589 nm is isolated by interference filters or by light-dispersing devices such as prisms or gratings.

Scope and Application

This method can be used in drinking water, wastewater, and surface waters and uses simple equipment.

Applicable Concentration Range

Interferences

Among common anions capable of causing interference are chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate in relatively large amounts.

Quality Control Requirements

See Section 3020 Quality Assurance/Quality Control.

Sample Handling

Store alkaline samples or samples containing low sodium concentrations in polyethylene bottles to eliminate the possibility of sample contamination due to leaching of the glass container.

Maximum Holding Time

6 months (See Section 1060)

Relative Cost

Less than $50

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 1 analyte associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level
Sodium(7440-23-5) Na Natrium Sodium	5.000 ug/L	4Rel. Error (ML)	17.30 % RSD (ML)			19.90 ug/L

Precision Descriptor Notes:	A synthetic sample containing 19.9 mg Na+/L, 108 mg Ca2+/L, 82 mg Mg2+/L, 3.1 mg K+/L, 241 mg Cl-/L, 0.25 mg NO2--N/L, 1.1 mg NO3--N/L, 259 mg SO42-/L, and 42.5 mg total alkalinity/L was analyzed in 35 laboratories by the flame photometric method, with a relative standard deviation of 17.3% and a relative error of 4.0%.
Detection Level Note:	Better flame photometers can be used to determine sodium levels approximating 5 ug/L.

Revision	PDF/Link
Standard Methods Online
As Method 3500-Na D in Standard Methods 18th Edition (1992)
As Method 3500-Na D in Standard Methods 19th Edition (1995)
Standard Methods 18th, 19th, 20th ed.

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Standard Methods: 3500-Na B: Sodium by Flame Emission Photometry

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