the magnetic field strength is slowly increased. This changes the mass/charge
ratio of ions that can reach the detector. A mass spectrum is produced.
The positive ions' paths are a;tered with a magnetic field. Lighter ions have less
momentum and are deflected more than heavier ions. For a given magnetic field,
only ions with a particular mass/charge ratio make it to the detector.
The positive ions are accelerated
by an electric field
the gas particles are bombarded with electrons to ionise them.
electrons are knocked off the particles leaving positive ions.
the sample is turned into a
gas using an electric heater
Relative atomic mass can be
calculated from mass spectrum.
Relative isotopic abundance can be
worked out from a Mass Spectrum
You can use Mass Spectrometry
on a Molecular Sample.
Mass Spectrometry has many uses.
Carbon dating is a method of working out the age of Carbon
based things based on how much Carbon-14 has decayed.
The pharmatceutical industry uses mass spectrometry to
identify compounds and how long drugs stay in the body.
Mass spectrometry is used for drugs test in
sport to determine how much of something is
present and if something violates the rules.
Probes to mars use mass spectrometry on
rocks to study the composition of materials.