Ionenmassenspektrometrie

Ionenmassenspektrometrie, often shortened to Massenspektrometrie, is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It is a powerful tool for determining the elemental composition of a sample, identifying unknown compounds, and quantifying the amounts of specific substances present. The basic principle involves ionizing the sample, separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and then detecting them.

The process begins with ionization, where atoms or molecules are converted into charged particles. Various ionization methods exist, depending on the nature of the sample, such as electron ionization, chemical ionization, or electrospray ionization. Once ionized, these ions are propelled into a mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates the ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio using electric and magnetic fields. Different types of mass analyzers include quadrupole, time-of-flight (TOF), and magnetic sector analyzers.

Finally, the separated ions reach a detector, which generates a signal proportional to the abundance of each ion. This data is typically presented as a mass spectrum, a plot of ion abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio. This spectrum serves as a unique fingerprint for the analyzed substance, allowing for identification and quantification. Ionenmassenspektrometrie has wide-ranging applications in fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, and environmental science. It is used in drug discovery, forensic analysis, geological dating, and understanding molecular structures.