interference due to changes in the volatilization rate of the dry aerosol particles in the case when volatilization of the analyte is incomplete in the presence and/or absence of the concomitant. This interference can either be specific, if the analyte and interferent form a new phase of different thermostability, as when Mg and Al form MgAl₂O₄ in an air–acetylene flame, or non-specific, if the analyte is simply dispersed in a large excess of the interferent, as when Ag is dispersed in ThO₂. If the interferent has a high boiling point, this latter is sometimes referred to as a blocking interference. It is often difficult to make sharp distinctions between the specific and non-specific solute-volatilization interferences.