Chapter 2.

2: The mass spectrometer

(Taken from the assessment statements)
2. 2. 1. Describe and explain the operation of a mass spectrometer.
The mass spectrometer is an instrument used to measure the masses and relative abundances of atoms and
molecules.
(http://images.tutorvista.com/cms/images/46/mass-spectrometer1.png)
1. A vaporized sample is injected into the mass spectrometer (so that individual particles can be analyzed).
Measurements are done in strict vacuum.
2. An electron gun (cathode rays) ionizes the sample, giving each particle the same (usually single) positive
charge.
3. The cations are attracted toward negatively charged plates. They are accelerated by an electric field and
pass through a thin hole in the plates (this also makes the beam of particles thinner).
4. A magnetic field generated by the electromagnet deflects the particles trajectory. The particles with a
smaller mass/charge ratio (m/z) are deflected more. The field is made stronger gradually to detect particles
with growing m/z ratios.
5. A detector detects the particles through sensing a change in charge when the positive particles hit the
detector. The recorder records how many particles have been detected a particular m/z ratio.
2. 2. 2. Describe how the mass spectrometer may be used to determine Ar using the 12C
scale.
As the mass spectrometer can be set up to produce only a single charge, the m/z ratio can be easily converted into
the relative atomic masses of the individual particles.
However, as the relative atomic mass is taking into account ALL THE ISOTOPES IN THEIR RELATIVE ABUNDANCES, the
calculation also needs to take this into account.

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