masssanaspektrometria

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It is a powerful tool employed in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, biology, and environmental science. The fundamental principle involves ionizing a sample, separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and then detecting them. This process generates a mass spectrum, which is a plot of ion abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio.

The process typically begins with an ionization source, which converts neutral atoms or molecules into charged ions. Common ionization methods include electron ionization (EI), electrospray ionization (ESI), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Once ionized, the ions are accelerated into a mass analyzer. Different types of mass analyzers exist, such as quadrupole, time-of-flight (TOF), and magnetic sector analyzers, each employing distinct physical principles for separating ions. Finally, a detector records the number of ions arriving at specific mass-to-charge ratios.

The information obtained from mass spectrometry is invaluable for identifying unknown compounds, quantifying the amount of a substance, and determining the structure of molecules. It plays a crucial role in drug discovery, forensic analysis, proteomics, and environmental monitoring, among other applications. The sensitivity and specificity of mass spectrometry make it a cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry.