ChemistryCode 9701
Mass spectrometry
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- analyse a mass spectrum using its m/e values and the isotopic abundances it shows
- work out an element's relative atomic mass when given the proportions in which its isotopes occur, or its mass spectrum
- deduce an organic molecule's molecular mass by reading the molecular ion peak of its mass spectrum
- suggest what molecules are produced by simple fragmentation as shown in a particular mass spectrum
- deduce how many carbon atoms, n, a compound holds by means of the [M + 1]+ peak, applying n = 100 × abundance of [M + 1]+ ion / (1.1 × abundance of M+ ion)
- deduce whether a compound contains bromine and chlorine atoms by making use of the [M + 2]+ peak