Mass Spectrometry

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

A technique that can be used to measure the mass of an atom or molecule.

We can use it for elements helps us determine the relative abundance and Prescence of isotopes.

Question 2

What do they do?

Answer 2

1.Separate individual isotopes in an element.
2.Determines the mass of each isotope relative to Carbon-12
3.Calculates the relative isotopic abundance of each isotope.

Question 3

How does it work?

Answer 3

1. Sample is vaporized and then ionised using high energy electrons.
   2.The ions are then accelerated and separated according to their mass to charge ratio.

• Particles with higher mass experience less deflection
  -Particles with larger charge experience higher deflection.

3. The ions that have a particular mass to charge ratio are detected by a device that counts the number of ions that hit it.