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2.8: Mass Spectrometry Problems

  • Page ID
    432166
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    Learning Objectives
    • Interpret mass spectra

     

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    The following figure shows the mass spectrum of a saturated hydrocarbon (containing only carbon and hydrogen with only single bonds between carbons, not double bonds).

    MS int1.gif

    1. Draw five different structures that would have the molecular weight of this compound.
    2. Choose three smaller m/z values from the spectrum and draw one structure for each of them. Note that these fragments will not have complete Lewis structures.
    Answer

    1. Molecular Weight = 114, which cooresponds to a C8H18 hydrocarbon. There is the possibility of 18 isomers, but here are a few isomers:

    C8H18isomers.svg

    2. m/z = 57; [CH3CH2CH2CH2]+  57.svg

    m/z = 43; [CH3CH2CH2]+  43.svg

    m/z = 29; [CH3CH2]+  29.svg

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Caffeine has a mass of 194.19 amu, determined by mass spectrometry, and contains C, N, H, O. What is a molecular formula for this molecule? 

    Answer

    C8H10N4O2

    C = 12 × 8 = 96

    N = 14 × 4 = 56

    H = 1 × 10 = 10

    O = 2 × 16 = 32

    96+56+10+32 = 194 g/mol

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    The following are the spectra for 2-methyl-2-hexene and 2-heptene, which spectra belongs to the correct molecule. Explain.

    A:

    B:

    Source: SDBSWeb : http://sdbs.db.aist.go.jp (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2 December 2016)

    Answer

    The (A) spectrum is 2-methyl-2-hexene and the (B) spectrum is 2-heptene. Looking at (A) the peak at 68 m/z is the fractioned molecule with just the tri-substituted alkene present. While (B) has a strong peak around the 56 m/z, which in this case is the di-substituted alkene left behind from the linear heptene.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    What are the masses of all the components in the following fragmentations?

    fragmentationsquestion.svg

    Answer

    The first undergoes an alpha cleavage. The second undergoes a dehydration. The final one goes througha  McLafferty rearrangement. 

    fragmentationsanswer.svg

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    5-Chloro-2-pentanone has the mass spectrum shown. Which peak represents the M+? Which is the base peak? Why is there a peak at 122? Explain what the fragment for the base peak would be. 

    clipboard_e45d3ab4632b34a973b7cc669c5ad6ae4.png

    Source: SDBSWeb : https://sdbs.db.aist.go.jp/sdbs/cgi-bin/cre_frame_disp.cgi?sdbsno=10178 (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16 August 2022)

    Answer

    M+ = 120

    base peak = 43

    The m/z peak at 122 is the M + 2 peak. It occurs because chlorine has two isotopes 35C and 37C in a 3:1 ratio. 

    The m/z = 43 occurs due to the alpha cleavage. The acylium ion has an m/z of 43. This fragment is particularly stable due to resonance. 

    alphacleavage_carbonyl.svg

     


    2.8: Mass Spectrometry Problems is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lauren Reutenauer.