Mass Spectrometry

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Mass Spectrometry

• By Faria Morshed
• Beverly Balasuriya

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What is Mass Spectrometry?

• Mass spectrometry provides valuable information
  to a wide range of professionals including
  chemists, biologists, pharmacists, physicians,
  engineers and astronomers.
• Mass Spectrometry is a method that allows us to
• Identify unknown compounds
• Study the unknown compounds molecular structure.
• Measure known compounds
• Explain the structures and chemical properties of
  the compounds molecules.

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History

• The technique mass spectrometry originated from
  J.J. Thomsons vacuum tube, where the existence
  of electrons and "positive rays" was
  demonstrated.
• Thomson had written his book called the Rays of
  Positive Electricity and Their Application to the
  Chemical Analysis that mass spectrometry was a
  efficient method to analyze chemicals.
• The primary function was to discover a number of
  isotopes, determine the relative abundance of the
  isotopes, and to measure their "exact masses"
  (within a precision of 1 part in 106 or better)

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The Mass Spectrometer

• The mass spectrometer is an instrument which can
  measure the masses and relative concentrations of
  atoms and molecules. In order to measure the
  characteristics of individual molecules, a mass
  spectrometer converts the molecules to ions so
  they can be manipulated by external electric and
  magnetic fields.

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Functioning of a Mass Spectrometer

• The design of a mass spectrometer has three
  fundamental components
• 1. The Ion Source Transforms the molecules in a
  sample into ionized fragments

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Continued

• 2. The Mass Analyzer The ions are sorted and
  separated according to their mass and charge.
• 3. The Detector Measures the value of some
  indicator quantity and provides data for
  calculating the abundances of each ion fragment
  present, and the results are displayed on a
  chart.

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Simple diagram of the main stages of a mass
spectrometer
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Mass Spectrometer
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Everyday Life

• We use mass spectrometry in everyday living when
• Identifying steroid use in athletes.
• Monitoring patients breathing during surgeries.
• Sensing dioxins in infected fish.
• Considering the composition of molecular species
  weve found in space.

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Sources

• http//www.asms.org/whatisms/
• http//www.chemguide.co.uk/analysis/masspec/howitw
  orks.html
• http//hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magneti
  c/maspec.html
• http//www.cem.msu.edu/reusch/VirtualText/Spectrp
  y/MassSpec/masspec1.htm