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11: Atomic Mass Spectrometry

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    333364
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    • 11.1: General Features of Atomic Mass Spectrometry
      In mass spectrometry we convert the analyte into ions and then separate these ions based on the ratio of their masses to their charges. In this section we give careful attention to what we mean by mass, by charge, and by mass-to-charge ratio. We also give brief consideration to how we generate and measure ions, topics covered in greater detail in subsequent sections.
    • 11.2: Mass Spectrometers
      A mass spectrometer has three essential needs: a means for producing ions, in this case (mostly) singly charged atoms; a means for separating these ions in space or in time by their mass-to-charge ratios; and a means for counting the number of ions for each mass-to-charge ratio.
    • 11.3: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
      An inductively coupled plasma in ICP is formed by ionizing a flowing stream of argon gas, producing argon ions and electrons. The sample is introduced into the plasma where the high operating temperature of 6000–8000 K is sufficient to atomize and ionize the sample. In ICP-MS we use the plasma as a source of ions that we can send to a mass spectrometer for analysis.
    • 11.4: Other Forms of Atomic Mass Spectrometry
      Although ICP-MS is the most widely used method of atomic mass spectrometry, there are other forms of atomic mass spectrometry, three of which we highlight here.


    This page titled 11: Atomic Mass Spectrometry is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by David Harvey.

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