what is the information that a mass spectrometers gives to about molecules and atom?

Question

mass spectrometer

Answer 1

Mass spectrometers are used in both quantitative and qualitative analysis, including high-resolution accurate mass measurements for the determination of elemental compositions. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical spectroscopic tool primarily concerned with the separation of molecular (and atomic) species according to their mass. MS can be used in the analysis of many types of samples, from elemental to large proteins and polymers.

Answer 2

A mass spectrometer determines the mass of atoms and molecules. The process involves bombarding the sample with electrons to form ions this often has the effect of fragmenting molecules so the final readout gives the masses of the fragments formed. Much theroretical work has gone into trying to determine how molecules fragment, but it is still a very poorly understood process. So the usual procedure is to compare the fragmentation against known molecules.
MS also only needs a very small sample.

Answer 3

Read this answer along with john and LD. Molecules are broken into small pieces and their exact molecular mass is measured. Chemistry tells you what are the possible regions by which a molecule can be broken int small fragments. The mass of these all possible fragments are measured and stored in a data base. Mass spectrum will show you the fragmentation spectrum of your molecule. If you know the mass of your molecule you can confirm it . If you don't know what is the exact molecule, you can compare the spectrum with all other spectrum in the database and the molecule of closely resembling spectrum will be yours. In the case of large molecules(proteins) you can identify the sequence by comparing the fragmentation pattern.Protein of different sequence will give you different pattern.

Answer 4

Their mass to charge ratio.given three molecules of a given substance one might have charge +1,another+2 and the third +3.But all these ions would have the same mass(electrons have mass about 1/1846 times mass of a proton) consequently you can with certainty using this charge mass
identify the molecule under analysis.

Answer 5

Along with the Mass Spectrum, e.g. sometimes the molecular mass as e/z it also gives a number of other spectra that are more important. This is because the others along with your knowledge of chemical pathways and degradation mechanism can be proof positive of what the orginal compound was. Depending on the initial stability of the compound being examined, you may have anywhere from 0 to about 75% possibility of finding the exact molecular weight.

Answer 6

it gives mass... since u r asking this Question, you probably don't know how it gives you the mass too right??

put it this way -- if u pick 100 rocks with different size in the bag... and you throw it across the room (with the same force for ALL rocks) ... you will realize that --- the one that moves the farthest are the SMALLEST rock... and the one that is nearest to you are th HEAVIEST rock....

same analogy with masses of atoms

Answer 7

It gives the mass.