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Related Concept Videos

Mass Spectrometry: Overview01:19

Mass Spectrometry: Overview

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Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to determine the molecular mass and molecular formula of a compound. The basic principle of mass spectrometry is to generate ions from the analyte molecule and measure these ion abundances against their molecular mass. One common type of ionization, known as electron ionization or EI, bombards the analyte molecules in the gas phase with high-energy electron beams. The electron beams displace an electron from the molecule and leave behind a...
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MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry01:19

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

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Mass spectrometry is a powerful characterization technique that can identify and separate a wide variety of compounds ranging from chemical to biological entities, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The instruments that allow this detection, known as mass spectrometers, have three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. These spectrometers differ based on the nature of their ion source and analyzers.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a commonly...
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Tandem Mass Spectrometry01:21

Tandem Mass Spectrometry

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Tandem mass spectrometry is a technique that uses multiple mass analyzers in series to obtain a higher selectivity and reduce chemical noise during analyte detection. Instruments with multiple analyzers separated by an interaction cell enable secondary fragmentation and selected study of the fragment ions.Secondary fragmentations occur in the interaction cell and can be induced by various factors. Fragmentation induced by collision with inert gases, such as N2, Ar, He, etc., is called...
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Mass Spectrometers01:16

Mass Spectrometers

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This lesson details the instrumentation of a mass spectrometer—a physical instrument to perform mass spectrometry on analyte molecules and record the characteristic mass spectra. This is achieved via three chief functions:
9.8K
Mass Spectrum: Interpretation01:24

Mass Spectrum: Interpretation

3.7K
An unknown compound can be established by identifying the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak is often weak or absent due to the predominance of fragmentation in high-energy electron beams. In such cases, a soft-energy electron beam can be used to scan the spectrum to enhance the intensity of the molecular ion peak. Additionally, chemical ionization, field ionization, and desorption ionization spectra are used to obtain a relatively intense molecular ion peak.To...
3.7K
Mass Analyzers: Common Types01:19

Mass Analyzers: Common Types

1.8K
The quadrupole mass analyzer consists of four cylindrical metal rods arranged in a diamond carrying a DC voltage and a radio-frequency AC voltage. The motion of ions through the quadrupole depends on the field strength, causing only ions of a certain m/z to resonate successfully and strike the detector at a given field strength. Though the transmission rate for these analyzers is high, the exact elemental composition of the sample is not determined because of low resolution; however, they are...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization
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Time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Introduction to the basics.

Ulrich Boesl1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.

Mass Spectrometry Reviews
|November 19, 2016
PubMed
Summary

This tutorial explains time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) basics, from simple to advanced designs. It helps identify factors affecting mass resolution and sensitivity for building TOF-MS instruments.

Keywords:
experimental options of ToF-MSion reflectorlaser mass spectrometryreflectronsspace focustwo-stage ion source

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Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) is a powerful analytical technique.
  • Understanding its fundamental principles is crucial for instrument design and optimization.

Approach:

  • This tutorial introduces basic TOF-MS concepts, starting with single-stage ion sources and progressing to two-stage designs with reflectrons.
  • It presents and discusses fundamental formulas, focusing on the physical relationships between geometric, electric, and ionic parameters.
  • Mathematical derivations are minimized in the main text, with thumb-rule formulas provided for practical estimations.

Key Points:

  • Identifies sources of flight time broadening that limit mass resolution.
  • Highlights factors contributing to ion losses that impact sensitivity.
  • Discusses instrumental options to stimulate creative experimental approaches.

Conclusions:

  • This tutorial serves as a guide for understanding TOF-MS principles, aiding in instrument design and experimental planning.
  • It empowers users to troubleshoot and enhance TOF-MS performance for improved mass resolution and sensitivity.