The excitation temperature and electron number density have been measured for end-on-view ICP discharge. In this work, end-on-view ICP-AES equipped with the newly developed “optical plasma interface (OPI)” was used to eliminate or remove the neg ative effects caused by end-on-plasma source. The axial excitation temperature was measured using analyte (Fe I) emission line data obtained with end-on-view ICP-AES. The axial electron number density was calculated by Saha-Eggert ionization equilibrium theory. In the present study, the effects of forward power, nebulizer gas flow rate and the presence of Na on the excitation temperature and electron number density have been investigated. For sample introduction, two kinds of nebulizers (pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizer) were utilized.