What is Mass Spectrometry?
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In a nutshell, mass spectrometry is an analytical tool useful for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of one or more molecules present in a sample. These measurements can often be used to calculate the exact molecular weight of the sample components as well. Typically, mass spectrometers can be used to identify unknown compounds via molecular weight determination, to quantify known compounds, and to determine structure and chemical properties of molecules.
How does a mass spectrometer perform such a feat? Every mass spectrometer consists of at least these three components: Ionization Source, Mass Analyzer, and Ion Detection System