Tömegspektrumot

Tömegspektrumot, or mass spectrometry, 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 amount of a substance present. The process typically involves ionizing a sample, separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and then detecting the abundance of each ion.

The ionization step is crucial and can be achieved through various methods, such as electron ionization (EI), electrospray ionization (ESI), or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Once ionized, the ions are accelerated into a mass analyzer. Common types of mass analyzers include quadrupole, time-of-flight (TOF), and magnetic sector analyzers. Each type separates ions differently, allowing for specific applications.

The separated ions are then detected, usually by an electron multiplier or Faraday cup, which generates an electrical signal proportional to the number of ions striking it. This signal is processed to create a mass spectrum, a plot of ion abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio. Mass spectrometry finds wide applications in fields such as chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, and forensics for tasks ranging from drug discovery and protein identification to environmental monitoring and forensic analysis.