Mass Spectrometer

Question 1

What is mass spectrometer

Answer 1

Where it separates atoms/ions according to their mass

Question 2

Stage 1

Answer 2

Stage 1: Ionisation

The atom or molecule is ionised by knocking one or more electrons off to give a positive ion.

Question 3

stage 2

Answer 3

Stage 2: Acceleration

The ions are accelerated so that they all have the same kinetic energy.

Question 4

stage 3

Answer 4

Stage 3: Deflection

The ions are then deflected by a magnetic field according to their masses. The lighter they are, the more they are deflected.
The amount of deflection also depends on the number of positive charges on the ion

Question 5

stage 4

Answer 5

Stage 4: Detection

The beam of ions passing through the machine is detected electrically.

Question 6

Why does it need a vacuum

Answer 6

It’s important that the ions produced in the Ionisation chamber have a free run through the machine without hitting air molecules.

Question 7

What is ionisation energy

Answer 7

Ionisation energy is the energy required to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of gaseous atoms or ions of an element. endothermic reaction

Question 8

What is atomic energy levels

Answer 8

Atomic energy levels are the energies of electrons in atoms

Question 9

Sheilding

Answer 9

is an effect of inner electrons which reduces the pull of the nucleus on the electrons in the outer shell of an atom

Question 10

Factors that affect ionisation energy

Answer 10

1. Charge of the nucleus
2. distance of the electron from the nucleus
3. the number of electrons in an atom
4. whether the electrons are paired up