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Atomic Structure

Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Ionisation and Acceleration

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

The first two stages of the instrument: electrospray and electron impact ionisation, and acceleration to constant kinetic energy.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Process

What are the stages of time of flight mass spectrometry?

Process

What are the four stages of time of flight mass spectrometry in order?

Process

In the first stage of TOF mass spectrometry, what happens to the sample?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What are the four stages of time of flight mass spectrometry in order?

    Model answer

    Ionisation, acceleration, ion drift, detection

  2. 2

    In the first stage of TOF mass spectrometry, what happens to the sample?

    Model answer

    The sample is ionised to form positive ions

  3. 3

    What is electrospray ionisation?

    Model answer

    A technique where a high voltage is applied to a sample dissolved in a volatile solvent, causing it to gain a proton (H⁺) and form a positive ion

  4. 4

    Why is electrospray ionisation particularly useful for large molecules?

    Model answer

    It causes less fragmentation, allowing the molecular ion to remain intact

  5. 5

    What is electron impact ionisation?

    Model answer

    A technique where high-energy electrons are fired at the sample, knocking off an electron to form a positive ion

  6. 6

    In electron impact ionisation, what causes the sample to lose an electron?

    Model answer

    High-energy electrons collide with the sample molecules

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