This molecular ion undergoes fragmentation.

Each

INTRODUCTION
primary product ion derived from the molecular ion, in
turn, undergoes fragmentation, and so on.

Mass or molecular weight of a compound can be

The ions are separated in the mass spectrometer
found in several ways .one such technique is using
according to their mass-to-charge ratio, and are
mass spectrometer
detected
It is an analytical
chemistry
that
in proportion
to theirtechnique
abundance.
A helps
mass
identify
theof
amount
and type
of chemicals
present
in a
spectrum
the molecule
is thus
produced
.
sample by measuring mass-to-charge ratio and

abundance
of gas-phase
It displays
the result ions
in the form of a plot of ion

principle

abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio

A mass spectrometer generates multiple ions
from the sample under investigation

 Analyzer: For resolving the ions into their

characteristics mass components according to their
Obtaining mass spectra consist of 2 types;
mass-to-charge ratio.
Detector System: For detecting the ions and recording
Conversion
of neutral
therelative
abundance
of each
of the resolved
ionic
molecule
into a charged
species.
molecule, preferably
to a positively charged
molecule.

Separation of the positively charged fragments

formed, based on their masses, by using electrical or
magnetic feld or both.

Instrumentation
The instrument consists of three major
components:

Ion Source: For producing gaseous ions from

the substance being studied.

all the above

components,
a mass
spectrometer
With
An important
enhancement
to the mass
resolving
and mass
should always
perform
the following
processes;
determining
capabilities
of mass
spectrometry
is using it in tandem
Components of a Mass Spectrometer
with
chromatographic
separation
techniques.
Separate
these ions
according
to their mass-to-charge

in the mass
analyzer
.
ratio
In addition,
a sample
introduction
system is necessary
Gas
chromatography

to admit
the samples
to be
toions
the ion
Eventually,
fragment
thestudied
selected
andsource
analyze
while
maintaining
the
high
vacuum
requirements
(~10-6

A
common
combination
is
gas
chromatographyfragments
in a second
analyzer.
tothe
10-8
mm
of
mercury)
of
the
mass spectrometry (GC/MS ortechnique;
GC-MS). Inand
thisa
computer
required
to control
thethe
acquire
a ions
gas chromatograph
isinstrument,
used
separate
technique,
Detect is
the
emerging
from
last to
analyzer
and
and
manipulate
data, and
compare
reference
different
compounds
.
measure
their
abundance
with the spectra
detectortothat
converts
libraries
the
ionsstream
into electrical
signals.
This
of separated
compounds is fed online into
the ion
source,
metallic
which
Process
the
signalsa from
the filament
detector to
that
are voltage is
applied.to
This
emits
which
ionize the
transmitted
theflament
computer
and electrons
control the
instrument
usingcompounds.
feedback.
The ions can then further fragment, yielding
chromatographic
predictable patterns. techniques combined
with
mass
spectrometry
Intact
ions and
fragments pass into the mass
spectrometer's analyzer
and are eventually detected.

Liquid chromatography
Indianapolis Museum of scientist Art conservation
performing

liquid

mass chromatography

spectrometry.

Similar to gas chromatography MS (GC/MS), liquid

chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS or LCMS) separates compounds
chromatographically before they are introduced to the ion
source and mass spectrometer. It differs from GC/MS in that
the mobile phase is liquid, usually a mixture of water and
organic solvents, instead of gas.
Most commonly, an electro spray ionization source is
used in LC/MS. Other popular and commercially available
LC/MS ion sources are atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization and atmospheric pressure photo ionization.

As
anapplications
analytical
it possesses
There
are alsotechnique
some newly
developed distinct
ionization
techniques
like laser spray.
Mass spectrometry
has both qualitative
and quantitative uses.
Increased sensitivity over most other analytical
Structure of elucidation;
techniques because the analyzer, as a mass-charge
Using nitrogen
rule,
peak matching,
filter, reduces
background
interference
fragmentation
pattern
of a compound
and %
Excellent
specificity from
characteristic
fragmentation
abundance
of isotopes,
of elucidation
patterns
to identify
unknowns structure
or confrm the
presence of
of organic
compounds
can beabout
done.
suspected
compounds,
Information
molecular weight.

advantages such as:

Detection of
impurities;

Impurities present can be detected by the

additional peaks, highest value of mass peaks
then compound itself, & from the
MSfragmentation
is now in very pattern
common use in analytical
laboratories that study physical, chemical, or
biological properties of a great variety of compounds.