Since the development of atomic spectrometry, trace element and isotopic analysis has been mainly based on the monitoring of atomic spectra and monoionic species. However, according to the literature and considering the current instrumental developments, it seems that some of the remaining challenges in this field can be mitigated via the measurement of molecular spectra or of polyatomic ions. This review discusses recent advances in three of the most important atomic techniques (laser-induced breakdown spectrometry, high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and how the monitoring of such molecules or polyatomic ions containing the target analyte enables attaining better selectivity and opens new ways to determine non-metals and to obtain isotopic information.

自从原子光谱学发展以来，痕量元素和同位素分析一直主要基于对原子光谱和单离子物种的监测。然而，根据文献和考虑到当前工具的发展，似乎有些在这一领域仍然面临的挑战可以缓解经分子光谱或多原子离子的测量。这篇综述讨论了三种最重要的原子技术的最新进展（激光诱导击穿光谱法，高分辨率连续谱源原子吸收光谱法和电感耦合等离子体质谱法），以及如何监测包含目标分析物的此类分子或多原子离子获得更好的选择性，并开辟了新的方法来确定非金属和获取同位素信息。