Magnesium Determination by Flame Photometry

Abstract

The flame photometer, "Eppendorf" is slightly modified to allow alternate determination of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium on the same instrument in the daily routine. With change of the burner head during the magnesium determination this was made possible. The magnesium determination is preceded by isolation of magnesium by precipitation as MgNH4PO4. The normal range was found to be 1.63 mN [plus or minus] 0.08 (S.D.) for men, and 1.65 mN [plus or minus] 0.13 (S.D.) for women. The figures are in agreement with the finding of McIntyre et al. The precision of the method was 2.5%.