What is the process of mass spectrometry?

A mass spectrometer can measure the mass of a molecule only after it converts the molecule to a gas-phase ion. To do so, it imparts an electrical charge to molecules and converts the resultant flux of electrically charged ions into a proportional electrical current that a data system then reads.

What is the first process in a mass spectrometer?

The first part of the process within a mass spectrometer is ionization; this occurs when an atom within the sample gains a negative or positive charge. Most standard mass spectrometers work with positive ions.

What are the components of a mass spectrometer?

A mass spectrometer consists of three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. The ionizer converts a portion of the sample into ions.

What are the components of mass spectrometer?

The main components of a mass spectrometer are:

• Inlet system (LC, GC, Direct probe etc…)
• Ion source (EI, CI, ESI, APCI, MALDI, etc…)
• Mass analyzer (Quadrupole, TOF, Ion Trap, Magnetic Sector)
• Detector (Electron Multiplier, Micro Channel Plates MCPs)

What are the three parts of a mass spectrometer?

A typical mass spectrometer comprises three parts: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. The sample to be analyzed is ionized in the ion source. The ions are then transported by magnetic or electrical fields to the mass analyzer.

What detectors do mass spectrometry use?

The detector used for most routine experiments is the electron multiplier. Another type of detector is photographic plates coated with a silver bromide emulsion, it is sensitive to energetic ions. A photographic plate can give a higher resolution than an electrical detector.

How to use mass spectrometry?

How a Mass Spectrometer Works Ionization. The initial sample may be a solid, liquid, or gas. Acceleration. In the mass analyzer, the ions are then accelerated through a potential difference and focused into a beam. Deflection. The ion beam passes through a magnetic field which bends the charged stream. Detection. A detector counts the number of ions at different deflections.

What does a mass spectrometer do?

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that ionizes chemical species and sorts the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. In simpler terms, a mass spectrum measures the masses within a sample. Mass spectrometry is used in many different fields and is applied to pure samples as well as complex mixtures.

How do mass spectrometers work?

A mass spectrometer is used to identify substances by measuring their component masses and relative concentrations. The process of measurement is as follows: The substance is exposed to heat to vaporize it. The substance is bombarded with electrons to ionize it.