Mass Spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique used to quantify known materials, to identify unknown compounds within a sample, and to elucidate the structure and chemical properties of different molecules. The complete process involves the conversion of the sample into gaseous ions, with or without fragmentation, which are then characterized by their mass to charge ratios (m/z) and relative abundances.

This technique basically studies the effect of ionizing energy on molecules. It depends upon chemical reactions in the gas phase in which sample molecules are consumed during the formation of ionic and neutral species.

Mass spectrometry has two probes ESI (Electrospray ionisation) and APCI (Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation) for polar and non-polar compounds Mass spectrum is a plot of relative abundance against the ratio of mass/charge (m/z)