Definition of mass spectrometry

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Photonics Dictionary

mass spectrometry: Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique used to determine the molecular composition and structure of compounds based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). It involves ionizing chemical substances to generate ions, separating these ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio using electric and magnetic fields, and detecting and quantifying these ions to create a mass spectrum.

Ionization: Samples are ionized using techniques such as electron impact ionization, electrospray ionization (ESI), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), or chemical ionization. This process converts neutral molecules into charged ions.

Mass analysis: Once ionized, the ions are accelerated through an electric or magnetic field, causing them to travel along a specific path. The ions are then separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), allowing different ions to reach the detector at different times.

Detection and data analysis: The ions are detected by a detector, such as a Faraday cup, electron multiplier, or a time-of-flight detector. The resulting data is processed to generate a mass spectrum, which represents the relative abundance of ions at different m/z values.

Applications of mass spectrometry include:

Identification of compounds: Mass spectrometry is widely used for identifying unknown compounds based on their molecular weight and fragmentation patterns.

Quantitative analysis: It can quantify the amount of specific compounds in a sample, often in combination with chromatographic separation techniques (e.g., LC-MS, GC-MS).

Proteomics and metabolomics: MS is crucial in studying proteins and metabolites to understand biological processes and disease mechanisms.

Overall, mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool with applications across various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, and forensics.

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