mass spectrometer
Molecular weight measurer
A mass spectrometer is an analytical instrument that measures the masses of molecules and atoms in a sample by ionizing them and sorting the resulting ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio.
Scientists use mass spectrometers to identify unknown compounds, determine the structure of molecules, and detect trace amounts of substances in fields ranging from chemistry to forensics to pharmaceutical development.
The lab ran the sample through the mass spectrometer to confirm the compound's identity.
Charge acquisition process
- time-of-flightDuration of particle travel
- detectorDevice that senses
- analyzerTool for systematic examination
- electromagnetWire-wound magnetic device
vacuum · inlet · accelerator · filament
Bands of separated wavelengths
- peaksHighest points attained
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- molecular weightTotal mass of atoms
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
Atoms bearing charge
- isotopesAtomic number twins
- peptidesBonded amino acid sequences
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- metabolitesChemicals from bodily processes
lipids · fragments · steroids · pesticides · pollutants · amino acids · hormones · vitamins
Formal decision or determination
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- dynamic rangeSignal amplitude span
signal-to-noise · specificity · reproducibility · linearity · robustness · selectivity
Drug fate in body
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- food safetyIllness prevention through handling
- doping controlAthletic substance screening process
- drug discoveryDeveloping new therapeutic compounds
ionization
Charge acquisition process
- time-of-flightDuration of particle travel
- detectorDevice that senses
- analyzerTool for systematic examination
electromagnet · vacuum · inlet · accelerator · filament
spectra
Bands of separated wavelengths
- peaksHighest points attained
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- molecular weightTotal mass of atoms
ions
Atoms bearing charge
metabolites · lipids · fragments · steroids · pesticides · pollutants · amino acids · hormones · vitamins · alkaloids
resolution
Formal decision or determination
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
dynamic range · signal-to-noise · specificity · reproducibility · linearity · robustness · selectivity
pharmacokinetics
Drug fate in body
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- food safetyIllness prevention through handling
- doping controlAthletic substance screening process
- lab equipmentmicroscope, microscopes, beaker, beakers, test tube
- Lab Instrumentsspectrophotometer, chromatograph, microscope, centrifuge, pipette
- Physics Devicesaccelerometer, ammeter, barometer, calorimeter, gyroscope
- sensorsbiosensors, temperature sensor, pressure sensors, heat sensor, ammeter
- testing instrumentsspectrophotometer, multimeter, oscilloscope, voltmeter, ohmmeter
- precision toolscaliper, micrometer, theodolite, oscilloscope, interferometer
mass, spectrometer, spectrometry, spectrophotometry, spectrography