This topic explains mass spectrometry, its working principle, and how it is used to determine the relative atomic mass of an element from its isotopic composition.
Definition
Mass Spectrometry: A powerful analytical technique used to determine the molecular composition and structure of a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions.
Mass Spectrum: A graph showing the relative abundance of ions at different mass-to-charge ratios.
Main Idea
Mass spectrometry involves three fundamental steps: ionization, mass analysis, and detection. The sample is first ionized, converting its molecules or atoms into charged ions. These ions are then separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio (mz) and detected to generate a mass spectrum. The mass spectrum provides information about the composition and abundance of the sample's molecules or the isotopic composition of an element.
Core Concept
The mass spectrometer separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio (mz). The resulting mass spectrum shows peaks at different mz values, with the height of each peak representing the relative abundance of that ion. This data can be used to calculate the average atomic mass of an element.
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