4. Elemental Analysis II

Question 1

What is ICPMS?

Answer 1

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry is a type of mass spectrometry that is highly sensitive and capable of the determination of a range of metals and several non-metals at concentrations below one part in 10^(12) (ppt).

Question 2

What are the stages from sample to ion in ICPMS?

Answer 2

Desolvation, vapourisation, atomisation and ionisation.

Question 3

What are isotopic elements?

Answer 3

Isotopic elements have the same atomic number (number of protons), but different number of neutrons. Thus the chemical properties are the same,
but the physical differ.

Question 4

What are isobaric elements?

Answer 4

Isobaric elements have different atomic number but the same atomic weight, i.e. different number of protons, but the overall sums of protons and neutrons are equal.
Thus the chemical characteristics are different, but the physical properties are similar.

Question 5

What does CRC mean?

Answer 5

Collision/reaction cell, which makes it possible to reduce interferences.