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			== Quadrupole mass analyzer gallery ==
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			File:Mass spectrometer quadrupole.JPG\|Mass spectrometer quadrupole
			File:Paul Patent 2939952 Fig5.gif\|Paul Patent 2939952 Fig5
			File:Quadrupole mass analyzer.svg\|Quadrupole mass analyzer
			File:Agilent 6538 Ultra High Definition (UHD) Accurate-Mass Q-TOF.jpg\|Agilent 6538 Ultra High Definition (UHD) Accurate-Mass Q-TOF
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'''Quadrupole Mass Analyzer'''

The '''Quadrupole Mass Analyzer''' (QMA) is a key component in [[mass spectrometry]], a technique widely used in analytical chemistry to identify substances within a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of its ions. The quadrupole mass analyzer utilizes a combination of electric and magnetic fields to filter ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. This selective process allows only ions of a specific mass-to-charge ratio to reach the detector at any given time, enabling precise identification and quantification of compounds.

==Principle of Operation==
The quadrupole mass analyzer consists of four parallel metal rods, arranged in a square configuration. Each opposing rod pair is connected electrically. A combination of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) voltages is applied to the rods. The DC voltage remains constant, while the AC voltage oscillates. This creates a dynamic electric field within the quadrupole.

Ions introduced into the quadrupole are subjected to this electric field. The field's unique configuration allows only ions with a specific mass-to-charge ratio to remain stable and pass through the quadrupole to the detector. Ions of other mass-to-charge ratios are destabilized and collide with the rods, thus being filtered out. By varying the voltages applied to the rods, ions of different mass-to-charge ratios can be sequentially allowed to pass, enabling the mass spectrometer to scan across a range of masses and identify various components within the sample.

==Applications==
Quadrupole mass analyzers are utilized in a variety of applications, including:

* [[Environmental Monitoring]]: Detection and quantification of pollutants in air, water, and soil.
* [[Pharmaceuticals]]: Analysis of drug compounds and metabolites.
* [[Proteomics]]: Identification and quantification of proteins in biological samples.
* [[Food Safety]]: Detection of contaminants and adulterants in food products.

==Advantages and Limitations==
'''Advantages:'''
* High scan speed, allowing rapid analysis of samples.
* Good mass accuracy and resolution.
* Relatively low cost and maintenance requirements compared to other types of mass analyzers.

'''Limitations:'''
* Limited mass range, especially for high mass-to-charge ratio ions.
* Sensitivity can be lower than that of other mass analyzers, such as time-of-flight (TOF) or Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) analyzers.

==See Also==
* [[Mass Spectrometry]]
* [[Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF-MS)]]
* [[Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR)]]
* [[Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Analytical chemistry]]
[[Category:Mass spectrometry]]

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Quadrupole mass analyzer - Revision history

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