The Mass Spectrometer

Created by: 5hyl33n
Created on: 29-08-20 23:46

Vacuum

The whole apparatus is kept under a vacuum. This is to prevent the ions that are produced colliding with molecules in the air.

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Ionisation

There are two types: Electrospray and electron impact

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Electrospray ionisation

The sample is dissolved in a volatile solvent and forced through a fine hollow needle which is connected to the positive terminal of a high voltage supply. Tiny positively charged droplets that have gained a proton from the solvent are produced.

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Electron impact

The sample is vaporised and high energy electrons are fired at it from an electron gun, which is a hot wire filament with a current running through it that emits beam of high energy electrons. One electron is knocked off forming a 1+ ion.

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Acceleration

The positive ions are attracted towards a negatively charged plate.

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Ion drift

The ions pass through a hole in the plate and form a beam. They travel along the flight tube to a detector.

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Detection

The flight times are recorded. The positive ions pick up an electron from the detector, which causes a current to flow.

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Data analysis

The signal from the generator is passed to a computer, generating a mass spectrum.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

There are two types: Electrospray and electron impact

Back

Ionisation

Card 3

Front

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

The positive ions are attracted towards a negatively charged plate.

Back

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The Mass Spectrometer