Tandem mass spectrometry

Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry (pronunciation: tan-dem mass spek-tro-met-ry) is a method used in analytical chemistry to identify the chemical structure of a molecule by breaking it into pieces and analyzing the mass of the fragments. The term "tandem" refers to the sequential nature of the process, where the molecule is first fragmented and then the fragments are analyzed.

Etymology

The term "tandem mass spectrometry" is derived from the Latin word "tandem" meaning "at length" or "finally", and the Greek words "spectron" meaning "appearance" and "metron" meaning "measure". This reflects the process of the method, where the molecule is first broken down and then the fragments are measured.

Process

Tandem mass spectrometry involves two main steps: fragmentation and analysis. The molecule is first ionized, usually by a process such as Electrospray Ionization or Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization. The ionized molecule is then fragmented, typically by collision with a gas in a process known as Collision-Induced Dissociation. The fragments are then analyzed by a mass spectrometer to determine their mass-to-charge ratio.

Applications

Tandem mass spectrometry is used in a variety of fields, including biochemistry, pharmacology, and forensic science. It is particularly useful for identifying and quantifying specific molecules in complex mixtures, such as proteins in a biological sample or drugs in a patient's blood.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Tandem mass spectrometry
Wikipedia's article - Tandem mass spectrometry

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Tandem mass spectrometry