Mass Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry (pronounced: mass spek-trom-e-tree) is an analytical technique that measures the Mass-to-charge ratio of ions. The results are typically presented as a mass spectrum, a plot of intensity as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio.

Etymology

The term "Mass Spectrometry" is derived from the words "mass" referring to the mass of the ions, and "spectrometry" which comes from the Greek word "spectron" meaning vision and "metry" meaning measurement.

History

Mass Spectrometry originated in the early 20th century, with the work of J.J. Thomson and his student Francis William Aston on positive rays.

Principle

Mass Spectrometry is based on the principle of ionization of the sample, which is then separated according to their mass to charge ratio. The ions are detected and the abundance of each ion is measured. This information is used to determine the Molecular weight of the sample, its elemental composition, and sometimes its structure.

Techniques

There are several techniques used in Mass Spectrometry, including Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS). Each technique has its own advantages and applications.

Applications

Mass Spectrometry has a wide range of applications in various fields such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Environmental Science. It is used for the identification and quantification of compounds, determination of molecular structure, and study of chemical reactions.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Mass Spectrometry
Wikipedia's article - Mass Spectrometry

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Mass Spectrometry