A museum holds a painting by Renoir and wishes to learn more about the trace composition of the pigments used in the priceless artwork. XRF is superior to AAS for this project because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is superior for this project because it is non-destructive (A), meaning it won't damage the priceless artwork by requiring a sample to be removed. Additionally, XRF can measure multiple elements simultaneously (B), making it more efficient for analyzing the complex mixtures of pigments in a painting. AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy), on the other hand, typically analyzes one element at a time and often requires sample preparation that could harm the artwork.

A Museum Holds a Painting by Renoir and Wishes to Learn