The Determination of Sodium in Small Volumes of Fluid by Flame Photometry

Abstract

A method of integrative flame photometry is described, by which the amount of sodium in biological fluids can be determined, using samples of the order of 10⁻³ cu.mm. With pure solutions of sodium chloride, of concentration from 0·05 to 2·0 %, the average error of the method is about 3 % of the concentration. When other substances are present systematic errors of up to 7·7 % have been recorded. The possibilities of reducing these systematic errors and of extending the method to deal with other elements are discussed.