Unit 1

Question 1

What are the 5 stages in mass spectrometry?

Answer 1

V I A D D
Vaporisation
Ionisation
Acceleration
Deflection
Detection

Question 2

What does vaporisation do in a mass spectrometer?

Answer 2

It changes the sample to a gas (vaporised) using an electrical heater.

Question 3

What is ionisation in terms of it’s role in a mass spectrometer?

Answer 3

The sample is fired at by high speed electrons which knock off electrons in the sample to make them positive ions.

Question 4

What is acceleration in a mass spectrometer?

Answer 4

An electric field is used to move/accelerate the positive ions from the sample through the mass spectrometer.

Question 5

What is deflection in a mass spectrometer?

Answer 5

A magnetic field is used to alter the path of the positive ions. Lighter ions will have less momentum so are deflected more than heavier ions.

Question 6

What is detection in a mass spectrometer?

Answer 6

It is the measurement of the mass of ions as they hit the amplifier/detector in a mass spectrometer. A specific magnetic field strength corresponds to ions of a certain mass to charge ratio that will make it to the detector. Therefore the magnetic field strength is altered to change the mass to charge ratio of ions that can reach the detector.

Question 7

What is a dative covalent bond?

Answer 7

The type of covalent bonding where both atoms in a covalent bond (a shared pair) are from the same atom.