Mass spectrometry - What is MS
6 important questions on Mass spectrometry - What is MS
What is mass spectrometry and on what is it based?
It is based on the gas phase separation of charged molecules and charged fragments based on the mass-to-charge ratio
What is a mass spectrum?
What is the average and exact mass?
C=12.011, H=1.0079, N=14.0067, O=15.9999, S=32.06, Cl=35.453
Exact mass: (also called monoisotopic mass) is the mass calculated using for every element the most abundant isotope
C=12.0000, H=1.0078, N=14.0031, O=15.9949, S=31.9721, Cl=34.9689
Let op! Isotopes do NOT have an integer mass, except 12C
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What kind of mass is given by low and high resolution ms?
- The average mass is to be used whenever is NOT possible to discriminate among isotopes (low resolution MS)
- The exact mass is to be used whenever is possible to discriminate among isotopes (high resolution MS)
The resolution it is determined by the instrument used, and in particular by the ion analyser.
How can a high resolution ms determine what kind of molecule you have?
242: 46 possible different formulas
242.1: 17 possible different formulas
242.13: 3 possible different formulas
242.131: 1 possible formula: C16H18O2 = 242.1307
What is the nitrogen rule?
An odd molecular mass in the INTACT molecule indicates the presence of an odd number of nitrogen atoms. So if there is a add number you have a nitrogen.
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