1. Mass Spectroscopy
Mass spectroscopy is a powerful tool in organic chemistry that can be used to provide information about the molecular formula and structural sub units
When it is combined with techniques of infrared and NMR it can be very useful in identifying unknown compounds

2. The Design of a Mass Spectrometer

3. The Design of a Mass Spectrometer

4. The Mass Spectrometer
The mass spectrometer contains a vacuum chamber into which a small amount of a compound is vaporized. The molecules are then bombarded by high energy electrons which cause the molecule to fragment into molecular ions

5. The Mass Spectrometer
The accelerated fragments are passed though a magnetic field that causes them to be deflected. The amount to which a particle isdeflected depends on its molecular mass

6. Water w/different H isotopes
Nature of Isotopes
Hydrogen(H) contains two other isotopes
Deuterium (D)
Tritium (T)
The table to the right shows the change in boiling point according to the different isotopes of H.
Water w/different H isotopes
Boiling Points
(1 atm)°C
H2O
100
D2O
101.4
T2O
101.5
H217O
100.1
H218O
100.2
D218O
HDO
100.7
HTO
100.8

7. Mass Spectra
A typical molecule may fragment in several different places. The ion formed from the loss of the electron is called the parent ion. The parent ion may fragment into smaller pieces. Each fragment is deflected to a different extent . Hence each peak appears in the Mass Spectrum

8. Peaks in the Mass Spectrum
Butane could in four different ways, each of which forms a signal in the mass spectrum

9. Multiplicity of Peaks
Carbon has isotopes 13C and 14C as well as 12C. Likewise there are isotopes of hydrogen including 1H, 2H and 3H. Hence a fragment with the formula CH3 has a a predominate mass of 15 but has smaller peaks representing the heavier isotopes of carbon and hydrogen

10. Mass Spectra for Butane

11. Mass Spectrum for Acetone

12. Mass Spectrum Ethanoic Acid

13. Mass Spectrum for Toluene

14. To Summarize Steps in a Mass Spectrometer Vaporization Ionization
Acceleration
Deflection
Detection