Mass Spectrometry

Question 1

What is the purpose of a mass spectrometer

Answer 1

To find the mass of atoms in a sample and to find its abundance

Question 2

What are the five stages of a mass spectrometer

Answer 2

Vaporisation
Ionisation
Acceleration
Deflection
Detection

Question 3

What happens in the vaporisation part of the mass spectrometer

Answer 3

Atoms are superheated to a gas so they move apart

Question 4

What happens in the ionisation part of the mass spectrometer

Answer 4

Electrons are fired from the electron gun and remove an electron from the atoms to ionise them

Question 5

What happens in the acceleration part of the mass spectrometer

Answer 5

Charged plates accelerate the ions so that every atoms has the same kinetic energy

Question 6

What happens in the deflection part of the mass spectrometer

Answer 6

An electromagnet deflects the samples towards the detector. Because they have the same kinetic energy, the magnitude of deflection depends on their mass. The greater the mass/charge ratio, the less the sample is deflected

Question 7

What happens in the detection part of the mass spectrometer

Answer 7

Ions are detected as they cause an electrical current in the detector. A spectrum is formed on a computer screen

Question 8

Describe conditions inside the mass spectrometer

Answer 8

A vacuum as the presence of any other atoms will disrupt the results