Mass Spectrometry
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What is the main use of mass spectrometry in organic chemistry?
It is the main method for finding the relative molecular mass (Mr) of organic compounds
What happens to a compound when it enters the mass spectrometer?
The compound is ionised to form positive ions and then accelerated as a beam of ionised molecules
How is the data from a mass spectrometer typically displayed?
As a mass spectrum: a graph og relative abundance {y - axis} vs mass/charge ratio (m/z) {x - axis }
In a mass spectrum, what causes the tiny peak one unit higher than the molecular ion peak?
It is caused by ions containing the carbon - 13 isotope
What is high resolution mass spectrometry?
A technique that measures masses to several decimal places, allowing precise identification of molecular formulae
Why can high resolution mass spectrometry distinguish between molecules with the same nominal mass?
This is because different atoms have unique, non - whole number atomic masses, which affect the exact molecular mass