Mass Number and Isotopes Flashcards
What is the atomic (proton) number?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus
What is the mass number of an element?
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
What are isotopes? What is example using chlorine?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
E.g: 35Cl and 37Cl
What is mass spectrometry?
Mass spectrometry is a very powerful instrumental technique which is used to find the relative atomic mass of elements and compounds
What is a real life example of using mass spectrometry?
Forensic scientists use mass spectrometers to help identify substances such as illegal drugs
How do mass spectrometers work?
Mass spectrometers work by forming ions from a sample and then separating the ions according to the mass/charge ratio of the atoms
How many stages is mass spectrometry split into? What is each stage named?
Mass spectrometry is split into four stages. In order: ionisation stage, acceleration stage, drift stage and lastly detection stage
The first method of mass spectrometry is ionisation. There are two methods of ionisation. What are they both called?
Electron impact ionisation and electrospray ionisation
What occurs during electron impact ionisation?
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
What occurs during electrospray ionisation?
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
What is the word equation for electron impact ionisation? What is the word equation for electrospray ionisation?
Electrospray ionisation:
X(g) + H+ (g) = XH+ (g)
Electron impact ionisation:
X(g) = X+ (g) + e-
What do you need to remember when using electrospray ionisation?
When using/calculating electrospray ionisation, at the end of the test, one electron must be taken away from the total
The second stage of mass spectrometry is the acceleration stage. What occurs in this stage?
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.
What type of ions will achieve higher speeds?
Lighter ions and more highly charged ions will achieve higher speeds
The third stage of mass spectrometry (drift stage) is the separation of the charged ions. What occurs in this stage?
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