Mass Spectrometry Flashcards
What is the 2nd step?
Ionisation: in the ionisation chamber, fast moving electrons are fired from an electron gun and knocks into other atoms, causing an electron to be knocked off. This forms a positive ion
What is the first step?
Vaporisation: the sample is vaporised into gas so that the particles can move freely and quickly through the machine
What is the 3rd step?
Acceleration: ions attracted to second plate which is negative but repelled by the first positive plate which causes positive ions to be pulled through and overcome the repulsion
What is an essential condition for acceleration?
An electric field
What 4th step?
Deflection: m/z charge, strength of magnetic field altered by increasing or decreasing it
What is the final step?
Detection: positive ions hit the detector and creates a current which is amplified and a spectrum is created.
Current is produced as particles are transferred to ions
What is abundance proportional to?
Current produced
