Mass Spectrometry Menu
How the mass spectrometer works
An explanation of how a mass spectrum is produced
The mass spectra of elements
How the mass spectrum of an element can be used to find its relative atomic mass.
The Mass Spectra of Organic Compounds
The formation of fragmentation patterns
What the mass spectra of organic compounds look like, how the patterns are formed, and the sort of information you can get from them.
The molecular ion (M+) peak
How the molecular ion peak can be used to find the relative formula mass of the compound and its molecular formula.
The M+1 peak
How the M+1 peak arises, and its use in finding the number of carbon atoms a compound contains.
Organic compounds containing halogen atoms
How the M+2 (and possibly M+4) peak arises, and its use in showing the presence of chlorine or bromine in a compound.