masspektromet

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It is employed in many different scientific fields, from chemistry and physics to biology and medicine. The fundamental principle involves ionizing molecules and then separating these ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.

The process typically begins with sample introduction, where the substance to be analyzed is introduced into the instrument. Next, ionization occurs, converting neutral molecules into charged ions. Various ionization methods exist, depending on the nature of the sample. Once ionized, the ions are accelerated by an electric field into a mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates the ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio. Common types of mass analyzers include quadrupoles, time-of-flight (TOF) analyzers, and magnetic sectors.

Finally, the separated ions are detected. The detector produces a signal proportional to the abundance of each ion species. This signal is then processed to generate a mass spectrum, which is a plot of ion abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio. Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for identifying unknown compounds, determining the isotopic composition of elements, and quantifying the amount of specific substances in a sample. Its applications range from drug discovery and environmental monitoring to forensic analysis and proteomics.