Mass spectrometry

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mass-spectrometry

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is mass spectrometry and how does it work?Mass spectrometry is a tool that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of tiny charged particles. It turns molecules into ions, separates them, and counts how many of each type there are to create a chemical fingerprint.
2. How do scientists turn molecules into ions for mass spectrometry?Scientists use ionization, which can be done by shooting high‑energy electrons at the sample (electron ionization) or by gentle methods like electrospray or laser light (ESI and MALDI). These methods make the molecules carry a charge so they can be moved by electric fields.

Mass-to-charge ratio (m/z): The fundamental physical property used to separate and identify ions in mass spectrometry.
Ionization techniques: Methods used to convert neutral molecules into charged ions, such as Electron Ionization (EI) and Electrospray Ionization (ESI).
Mass analyzer: The component of a mass spectrometer that separates ions based on their m/z values.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS): A technique involving multiple stages of mass analysis for detailed structural information and compound identification.