Why Use Nitric Acid for Heavy Metal Digestion?

[Henokh96]

I already done an experiment for detecting the presence of heavy metals(copper and lead) .

The last step for detection is through the absorption of analyte by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Before that step to be done, the first process is to digest the water sample in the fume chamber.

And my question is that why on Earth are we using nitric acid for the digestion? Why not use the other types of acid?

If I am right , the reason why depends the type of heavy metal that we wanted to achieve .
Tell me if I am wrong :) tq

 

[Borek]

You are wrong.

 

[Borek]

OK, more seriously - sulfates tend to be insoluble, chlorides tend to be volatile.

Watch your language. This:

absorption of analyte by atomic absorption spectroscopy

is wrong. AAS is not based on the "absorption of analyte".

 

[Henokh96]

You are wrong.

Further explanation might help sir

 

[Henokh96]

OK, more seriously - sulfates tend to be insoluble, chlorides tend to be volatile.

Watch your language. This:
is wrong. AAS is not based on the "absorption of analyte".

Atomized analyte correct?