5 stages to mass spectrometry

What is required within a mass spectrometer for the machine to work?

A vacuum must be maintained within the instrument to ensure there are no air particles in the flight tube as sample particles could collide and be deflected by these air particles.

Stage 1

Vaporization:

The sample must be in the gas phase so it is able to pass through the machine.

Stage 2

Ionisation:

The sample is bombarded by high energy electrons to create positive ions. Lots of these molecules can fragment during ionisation to produce at least one new positive ion and a neutral species.

Stage 3

Acceleration:

The positive ions are accelerated by a high electrical field. Their velocities can be altered / selected using a velocity selector.

Stage 4

Deflection:

The positive ions are then deflected by a strong magnetic field created by an electromagnet. The ions can be sorted by their mass by altering the strength of the electromagnet.

(NB: follows Fleming’s Left Hand Rule)

Stage 5

Detection:

Particles with the specific / correct mass for that strength of electromagnet are perfectly deflected through the machine where they meet with an ion detector.

The ratio of each positive ion is calculated. The relative abundances are calculated against the most abundant particle (the particle with the mass which is detected most)