No abstract provided. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Scope and contents: The principal aim of the present investigation is to extend our knowledge of the merits and demerits of the mass spectroscopic method of solid analysis. This dissertation provides information concerning relative ionization efficiencies for several elements and factors which effect these efficiencies. Secondary purposes of this work are 1) to make an independent determination of the temperature of the vacuum spark, 2) to resolve the current discrepancy concerning the value of the C3+/C2+ ratio from graphite electrodes in a spark and, finally, 3) to provide an accurate value for the Ni58/Ni60 abundance ratio.