AbstractAnalytical methods for the determination of the main compounds and impurities in Pb17Li eutectic alloy which are used in our laboratory are summarized. Metallic impurities and the lithium content are analysed by means of atomic absorption spectrometry or optical emission spectrometry with inductive plasma excitation after decomposition of the samples in nitric acid. The determination of carbon is performed by combustion in oxygen and IR-absorption of CO2. Nitrogen is distilled as NH3 by means of the micro-Kjeldahl method and photometrically determined because of its small quantity. The most important non-metallic impurity is oxygen. The analysis for oxygen is performed using vacuum hot extraction. The samples have to be carefully protected against contamination by air and moisture.The estimation of oxygen contents resp. chemical activities is successfully performed using electrochemical meters. Thoria-yttria, zirconia-yttria or -calcia are suitable as solid electrolyte materials, indium-indium oxide serves as oxygen reference potential electrode. The advantage of the oxygen meters is that they detect the oxygen contents in solution in the liquid alloy. The meters can also be used to roughly measure the chemical activity of lithium in the liquid alloy. The temperature range to apply the meters is 350 to 500°C.Analytical techniques are also necessary to detect corrosion phenomena in suurface areas of materials. The glow discharge optical spectrometry is a method which determines elemental concentrations of up to 35 elements in relation to the distance from the surface. Measurements are performed up to 50 μm depth, from the adherent layer of Pb17Li into the material matrix. This technique has the capacity to measure quantitatively and sensitively lithium concentration profiles in the adherent layer and the corroded material.