Mass Spectrometry for CAIE A-Level Chemistry What is mass spectrometry? Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that can be used to identify, characterize, and quantify compounds. It works by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. How does mass spectrometry work? Mass spectrometry involves the following steps: Ionization: The sample is ionized, which means that electrons are removed to create positively charged ions. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as electron impact ionization or electrospray ionization. Acceleration: The ions are accelerated by a strong electric field. Mass separation: The ions are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as sector field mass spectrometry or time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Detection: The ions are detected and their relative abundance is measured. Interpreting mass spectra A mass spectrum is a graph that shows the relative abundance of ions at diffe...