Massaladdningsförhållande

Massaladdningsförhållande, often abbreviated as m/z, is a fundamental concept in mass spectrometry. It represents the ratio of the mass-to-charge state of an ion. In mass spectrometry, molecules are ionized and then separated based on their m/z values. This separation is typically achieved by an electric or magnetic field that deflects ions according to their m/z ratio.

The m/z value is a dimensionless quantity and is crucial for identifying and quantifying substances. When an atom or molecule loses or gains electrons, it becomes an ion. If an ion carries a single charge (z=1), its m/z value is simply its mass. However, if an ion carries multiple charges (z > 1), its m/z value will be less than its actual mass. For example, an ion with a mass of 100 Da and a charge of +2 would have an m/z of 50.

Understanding the m/z ratio is essential for interpreting mass spectra, which are plots of ion abundance versus m/z. Each peak in a mass spectrum corresponds to ions with a specific m/z value, providing information about the molecular weight and fragmentation patterns of the analyzed sample. This technique is widely used in various fields, including chemistry, biology, medicine, and environmental science, for tasks such as drug discovery, protein analysis, and pollutant detection.