Edexcel A-Level Chemistry 9CH0
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Bonding and Structure
Inorganic Chemistry and the Periodic Table
Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
Organic Chemistry I
Modern Analytical Techniques I
Energetics I
Kinetics I
Equilibrium I
Acid-Base Equilibria
Energetics II
Redox II
Transition Metals
Kinetics II
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry III
Modern Analytical Techniques I
Mass spectrometry
- 3 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
Overview
The molecular ion peak and reading Mᵣ from it, why isotope peaks can sit at higher m/z, how fragmentation arises and why only positive fragments are detected, the groups lost at 15, 17, 29 and 45, and calculating mass lost to propose a structure.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
In a mass spectrum, a loss of 15 mass units from the molecular ion indicates the loss of which group?
What does the molecular ion peak (M⁺) in a mass spectrum represent?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does the molecular ion peak (M⁺) in a mass spectrum represent?
Model answer
The intact molecule that has lost one electron.
- 2
What does the molecular ion peak tell you about Mᵣ?
Model answer
Take the m/z at the molecular ion peak; that value is Mᵣ.
- 3
How is an organic compound's relative molecular mass read off a mass spectrum?
Model answer
Read the m/z value of the molecular ion peak, which is typically the peak at highest m/z (excluding isotope peaks).
- 4
Why might the molecular ion peak not be the absolute highest m/z peak in a mass spectrum?
Model answer
Because isotope peaks (such as those containing ¹³C) may appear at slightly higher m/z values than the main molecular ion peak.
- 5
Explain how fragmentation patterns arise in mass spectrometry.
Model answer
The molecular ion breaks apart into smaller positively charged fragments and neutral species.
- 6
Why do only some fragments from the molecular ion appear as peaks in the mass spectrum?
Model answer
Only positively charged fragments are detected; neutral species are not recorded.
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