Question

MgO prevents premature evaporation of Al in a furnace by maintaining the aluminium as Al2O3. Another type of matrix modifier prevents loss of signal from the atom X that readily forms molecular carbide, XC, in a graphite furnace (a source of carbon). For example, adding yttrium to a sample containing barium increases that barium signal by 30%. The bond dissociation energy of YC is 30% greater than that of BaC. Explain what is happening to increase the signal.

Answer 1

The dissociation energy of YC is greater than that of BaC, so the equilibrium

BaC + YC Ba + YC is driven to the right, increasing the concentration of free Ba atom in the gas phase.