Module 7: Mass Spectrometry

what are the 3 universal steps of mass spectrometry

1. generate ions

2. separate ions

3. detect ions

base peak

greatest ion abundance / intensity; highest peal

product ion

ions that come from the dissociation of other ions

molecular ion

ion that preserfves the structural integrity of the analyte of interest

molecular mass

sum of unified atomic mass units of an entire molecule/ion

nominal mass

integer mass of the most abundant isotope o each element in the ion

electron ionization

a way of generating ions that involves bombarding the molecule with 70V electrons

• excess energy from the voltage is internalized and causes fragmentation

chemical ionization

more gentle form of electron ionization as a gas limits the effect of the gas stream

mean free path

the distance an ion travels in the mass analyzer before it collides with something