Topic 1.1.2 - Mass spectrometry

Question 1

What is relative atomic mass?

Answer 1

The mean mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12 of the mass of carbon 12.

Question 2

Relative isotopic mass?

Answer 2

The mean mass of an atom of an isotope relative to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon 12.

Question 3

What does a mass spectrometer do?

Answer 3

Measures the masses of atoms and molecules.
It produces positive ions that are deflected by a magnetic field according to their mass to charge ratio.

Question 4

Why does a mass spectrum of chlorine have peaks at 35 and 37?

Answer 4

These are chlorine’s 2 isotopic masses

Question 5

Why does the mass spectrum of chlorine have peaks at 70,72 and 74.

Answer 5

3 different combinations of isotopes added together.
As it’s a diatomic molecule