Mass Number and Isotopes Flashcards

1
Q

What is the atomic (proton) number?

A

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus

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2
Q

What is the mass number of an element?

A

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

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3
Q

What are isotopes? What is example using chlorine?

A

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

E.g: 35Cl and 37Cl

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4
Q

What is mass spectrometry?

A

Mass spectrometry is a very powerful instrumental technique which is used to find the relative atomic mass of elements and compounds

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5
Q

What is a real life example of using mass spectrometry?

A

Forensic scientists use mass spectrometers to help identify substances such as illegal drugs

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6
Q

How do mass spectrometers work?

A

Mass spectrometers work by forming ions from a sample and then separating the ions according to the mass/charge ratio of the atoms

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7
Q

How many stages is mass spectrometry split into? What is each stage named?

A

Mass spectrometry is split into four stages. In order: ionisation stage, acceleration stage, drift stage and lastly detection stage

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8
Q

The first method of mass spectrometry is ionisation. There are two methods of ionisation. What are they both called?

A

Electron impact ionisation and electrospray ionisation

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9
Q

What occurs during electron impact ionisation?

A

In electron impact ionisation, the sample is vaporised and high energy electrons are fired towards it. An electron is knocked of from each particle form +1 ions

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10
Q

What occurs during electrospray ionisation?

A

The sample is dissolved into a volatile solvent and forced through a fine, hollow needle. A very high voltage is applied to the end of the needle, which makes the particles gain a proton and become ions as a fine mist. The solvent evaporates leaving +1 ions

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11
Q

What is the word equation for electron impact ionisation? What is the word equation for electrospray ionisation?

A

Electrospray ionisation:
X(g) + H+ (g) = XH+ (g)

Electron impact ionisation:
X(g) = X+ (g) + e-

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12
Q

What do you need to remember when using electrospray ionisation?

A

When using/calculating electrospray ionisation, at the end of the test, one electron must be taken away from the total

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13
Q

The second stage of mass spectrometry is the acceleration stage. What occurs in this stage?

A

The positive ions are attracted towards a negatively charged plate and accelerate towards it. This is done through an electric field so that all the ions have the same kinetic energy.

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14
Q

What type of ions will achieve higher speeds?

A

Lighter ions and more highly charged ions will achieve higher speeds

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15
Q

The third stage of mass spectrometry (drift stage) is the separation of the charged ions. What occurs in this stage?

A

Ions enter the flight tube. Ions with different masses have different time of flights. Therefore the lighter ions travel faster and take less time to reach the detector

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16
Q

The fourth and last stage (detection stage) is detection of ions. What occurs in this stage?

A

The ions hit the detector (a negatively charged plate) and produce a current. The more ions that hit the detector, the bigger the current produced.

17
Q

How is the signal that is produced by the ions recieved and interpreted?

A

The signal from the detector is passed to a computer which generates a mass spectrum

18
Q

Outline the full process of mass spectrometry:
a. discuss both types of ionisation

A
  1. Electrospray ionisation - the sample is dissolved into a volatile solvent and injected into the vacuum through a fine, hollow needle. The end of the needle is charged with a very high voltage, allowing the particles to gain a proton and making ions. The solvent dissolves leaving the +1 ions

Electron impact - High energy electrons are fired at the sample which knock off one electron from each atom to form a +1 ion

  1. The ions are then attracted to a negatively charged plate and accelerate towards it. This is done through an electric field so the ions achieve the same kinetic energy. However light ions or more highly charged ions achieve higher speeds.
  2. The ions enter the flight tube. They have different masses which lead to different time of flights. As a result lighter ions travel faster and take less time to reach the detector.
  3. The ions hit the detector (a negatively charged plate) and produce a current. The more ions that hit the detector, the bigger the current will be
  4. The signal from the detector is passed to a computer which generates a mass spectrum
19
Q

Isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties. Why is this?

A

Isotopes of the same elements have the same chemical properties because they have the same electronic configurations

20
Q

What is the definition of the term “relative atomic mass”?

A

The term relative atomic mass refer to the average mass of an atom relative to 1/12 of a carbon 12 atom

21
Q

How do you calculate the mass of an atom, in grams?

A

relative atomic mass divided by avogadro’s number

22
Q

How do you calculate the mass of an atom, in kgs? (normally)

A

relative atomic mass divided by (avogadro’s number multiplied by 1000