1.Electrospray Ionization
sample vaporized and put into a small capillary tube and high voltage is applied causing the atoms to lose an electron and making the sample a mononuclear gas
2.Acceleration
Ions accelerated by an electric field, smaller ions travel faster
3.ion drift
ions have a constant speed and kinetic energy and enter region of no electric field (flight tube)
Smaller ions move faster
4.Detection
Smaller ions reach detector first as they travel faster
5.Data analysis
time and mass of the ins are recorded by a computer and analyzed to make a mass spectrum