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Spectroscopy and Chromatography

High resolution mass spectrometry

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit A2 2

Overview

Molecular formula determination worth compared with a relative molecular mass and limitation of high resolution mass spectrometry.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What does high resolution mass spectrometry measure?

Key term

Give the accurate masses of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.

Numbers

Calculate the accurate mass of C₃H₈O.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does high resolution mass spectrometry measure?

    Model answer

    The mass to charge ratio to four or more decimal places, rather than to the nearest whole number.

  2. 2

    Give the accurate masses of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.

    Model answer

    Hydrogen 1.00783, carbon 12.00000, nitrogen 14.00307 and oxygen 15.99491.

  3. 3

    Why is carbon-12 exactly 12?

    Model answer

    It is the standard against which the atomic mass unit is defined, so its mass is exactly twelve by definition.

  4. 4

    Calculate the accurate mass of C₃H₈O.

    Model answer

    Three carbons give 36.00000, eight hydrogens give 8.06264 and one oxygen gives 15.99491, a total of 60.05755.

  5. 5

    Calculate the accurate mass of C₂H₄O₂.

    Model answer

    Two carbons give 24.00000, four hydrogens give 4.03132 and two oxygens give 31.98982, a total of 60.02114.

  6. 6

    Both formulae have a nominal mass of 60. How does high resolution distinguish them?

    Model answer

    They differ by about 0.037 mass units, which an instrument reading to four decimal places resolves easily.

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