Mass Spectrometry Flashcards
Atomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
Mass Number
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Isotope
Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but differing mass numbers
Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number and differing mass numbers have the same numbers of (1) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and differing numbers of (2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
(1) protons
(2) neutrons
What is mass spectrometry used for?
To identify the the presence and relative abundance of isotopes in a sample of an element
What happens during the first stage of mass spectrometry?
Sample is vaporised and then ionised using a beam of electrons
What happens during the second stage of mass spectrometry?
The ions are separated and accelerated according to their m/z ratios in an electric/magnetic field
m/z ratio
mass to charge ratio
What happens during the third stage of mass spectrometry?
The ions that have a particular m/z ratio are detected by a device that counts the number of ions that strike it
What is the graphical output of a mass spectrometer called?
Mass Spectra
What appears on the X-axis of a mass spectra?
The m/z ratio
For simple mass spectra, m/z ratio is often equal to
The mass of the ion
What appears on the Y-axis of a mass spectra?
The relative abundance
