Mass Spectrometry Flashcards
1
Q
What is mass spectrometry?
A
A form of molecular chemical analysis
2
Q
What do all mass spectrometers do?
A
- form ions from a sample
- separate the ions
- detect ions
3
Q
What can they be used for?
A
- provides structural information on compounds
- identify unknown compounds
- show relative abundance of isotopes
4
Q
How does TIME OF FLIGHT mass spectrometry work?
A
Works in 5 steps:
•IONISATION- sample is dissolved in a volatile solvent and ejected through hollow needle that’s attached to the positive terminal of a high voltage supply
- ACCELERATION- positive ions are accelerated towards negative charged plate
- ION DRIFT- ions pass through hole in negative plate and travel through flight tube to detector
- DETECTION- flight times of ions are recorded
- DATA ANALYSIS- signals pass to computer that generates mass spectrum
5
Q
What does M/Z stand for?
A
Mass to charge ratio
6
Q
What does the graph have on it?
A
Percentage abundance
(Vertical)
Mass spectrum
(Horizontal)
