Mass spectrometer

Question 1

Steps of the mass spectrometer

Answer 1

1. vaporisation
2. ionisation
3. acceleration
4. separation in magnetic field
5. detection

Question 2

principle of mass spectrometry

Answer 2

charged particles moving in a magnetic field are deflected to different extents, due to their masses & are thus separated according to their mass

Question 3

vaporisation

Answer 3

small amount of a gas or liquid is injected into a vacuum, turning into a gas

Question 4

ionisation

Answer 4

an ‘electron gun’ fires high-energy electrons at the sample to turn them into ions

Question 5

acceleration

Answer 5

negatively charged plates accelerate the positive ions into one fine beam

Question 6

separation in a magnetic field

Answer 6

the fine beam is made to move in a curved path by a strong magnetic field, lighter particles are easier to deflect while the heavier particles are more difficult, thus ions are separated according to mass.

Question 7

detection

Answer 7

positive ions fall on the detector, the detector produces a printed series of peaks called the mass spectrum