ATOMIC MASS

SPECTROSCOPY

GROUP 1 SUB-
GROUP
FAJILAGO, KRISSIA
CALLANGA, RICHARD
VARONA, JOHN PAUL
OBJECTIVES
1.To learn what is atomic mass
spectroscopy.

2.To identify the origin,

instrumentation, working principle of
atomic mass spectroscopy.
INTRODUCTION

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.
INTRODUCTION

Mass spectrometry, also called mass

spectroscopy, analytic technique by which
chemical substances are identified by the
sorting of gaseous ions in electric and magnetic
fields according to their mass-to-charge ratios.
The instruments used in such studies are called
mass spectrometers and mass spectrographs.
Origin of Atomic Mass Spectroscopy

The foundation of mass spectroscopy

was laid in 1898, when Wilhelm Wien, a
German physicist, discovered that beams of
charged particles could be deflected by a
magnetic field. In more refined experiments
carried out between 1907 and 1913, the British
physicist J.J. Thomson, who had already
discovered the electron and observed its
deflection by an electric field, passed a beam of
positively charged ions through a combined
electrostatic and magnetic field.
Origin of Atomic Mass Spectroscopy

The two fields in Thomson’s tube were

situated so that the ions were deflected through
small angles in two perpendicular directions.
The net result was that the ions produced a
series of parabolic curves on a photographic
plate placed in their paths. Each parabola
corresponded to ions of a particular mass-to-
charge ratio with the specific position of each
ion dependent on its velocity; the lengths of the
parabolic curves provided a measure of the
range of ion energies contained in the beam.
Origin of Atomic Mass Spectroscopy

Later, in an attempt to estimate the

relative abundances of the various ion species
present, Thomson replaced the photographic
plate with a metal sheet in which was cut a
parabolic slit. By varying the magnetic field, he
was able to scan through a mass spectrum and
measure a current corresponding to each
separated ion species. Thus he may be credited
with the construction of the first mass
spectrograph and the first mass spectrometer.
Principle of Atomic Mass
Spectroscopy

The basic principle of mass spectrometry

(MS) is to generate ions from either inorganic or
organic compounds by any suitable method, to
separate these ions by their mass-to-charge
ratio (m/z) and to detect them qualitatively and
quantitatively by their respective m/z and
abundance. The analyte may be ionized
thermally, by electric fields or by impacting
energetic electrons, ions or photons.
Principle of Atomic Mass
Spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an

analytical technique that separates
ionized particles such as atoms,
molecules, and clusters by using
differences in the ratios of their charges
to their respective masses (mass/charge;
m/z), and can be used to determine the
molecular weight of the particles.
3 COMPONENTS OF MASS
SPECTROSCOPY

• Ionization Source
• Mass Analyzer
• Ion Detection System
The Ionization Source
Ionization occurs when the collision
removes an electron from the sample
molecule, creating predominantly singly
charged positive ions. Because EI is a
high-energy process, it cleaves covalent
bonds, producing repeatable
fragmentation that can be used to
identify compounds using mass spectral
libraries.
The Mass Analyzer
A mass analyzer is the
component of the mass
spectrometer that takes ionized
masses and separates them based
on charge to mass ratios and
outputs them to the detector where
they are detected and later
converted to a digital output.
Ion Detection System
The objective of ion current
detectors used with mass
spectrometers is to provide a
measure of the intensity of ions with
different m/z values that have been
separated in a mass analyzer.
Instrumentation of Atomic
Mass Spectroscopy
Atomic Spectroscopy is based upon the
ability of atoms to absorb or emit light. In atomic
absorption spectrophotometry (see graph at
right), the atoms are heated enough in a flame
or graphite tube to free them from solvents and
disrupt the formation of salts, but not enough to
pump electrons to an excited electronic state.
The free atoms, with electrons in the ground
state, are ready to absorb light of just the right
energy to promote electrons to an excited
electronic state.
Instrumentation of Atomic Mass
Spectroscopy
Atomic spectroscopy, which is
separated into atomic absorption,
emission, and fluorescence
spectroscopy, was the first use of
spectroscopy. Since the spectra of
different elements differ, atomic
spectroscopy may be used to
measure and determine a material's
composition.
 Because the larger the
concentration of that atom in the
sample, the less light reaches the
detector, determining the concentration
of a specific atom in a sample by
measuring how much light it absorbs is
very simple. The goal of heating the
sample is to give enough energy to
pump electrons into excited electronic
energy levels, not just to liberate the
atoms from the solvent and form salts
 The electrons within an atom exist at
various energy levels. When the atom is
exposed to its own unique wavelength, it
can absorb the energy (photons) and
electrons move from a ground state to
excited states. The radiant energy
absorbed by the electrons is directly
related to the transition that occurs during
this process. Furthermore, since the
electronic structure of every element is
unique, the radiation absorbed represents
a unique property of each individual
element and it can be measured.
Flame Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer (Flame AA)
FAAS is mostly
used to calculate metal
concentrations in solutions
in parts per million (ppm)
or parts per billion (ppb)
ranges. Metal ions are
nebulized in a fine spray
into a high-temperature
flame and reduced to
atoms before absorbing
light from an element-
specific hollow cathode
lamp.
Graphite furnace atomic absorption
spectrometry (GFAAS)

GFAAS (graphite
furnace atomic
absorption
spectrometry) is
another name for
electrothermal atomic
absorption
spectrometry
(ETAAS). GFAAS is a
well-established
technique for
measuring elements at
the trace and ultra-
trace levels.
 GFAAS involves injecting a specified
amount of sample solution into a graphite- or
pyrolytic carbon-coated graphite tube, which is
subsequently heated to evaporate and atomize
the analyte. Atoms absorb ultraviolet or visible
light of a particular element's wavelength and
shift to higher electronic energy levels. The
concentration of the element of interest in the
sample solution is measured by the quantity of
absorption. After calibrating the equipment with
established concentration standards,
concentrations may be calculated.
Inductively coupled plasma
Inductively coupled plasma
Inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission
spectroscopy is a form of emission spectroscopy in which
excited atoms and ions emit electromagnetic radiation at
wavelengths characteristic of a certain element. The
intensity of this emission is proportional to the element
content in the sample. A nebulizer turns the sample into an
aerosol, which is then injected into the plasma's excitation
region. The plasma jet source is made up of three
electrodes arranged in the shape of a tripod. A graphite
anode is positioned in each arm, while a tungsten cathode
is located at the inverted base. A high-velocity inert gas,
often ICP argon, generates a high-temperature plasma that
separates the excitation area from the analytical
observation zone.
 We may replace
the flame burner head with
a graphite furnace. The
graphite furnace is
significant because the
atoms remain in the path of
light for thousands of times
longer than in the flame,
giving them a better
opportunity to absorb light.
As a result, most elements
may be detected at
considerably lower
concentrations.
 The PE 3110 is a
stand-alone AA that does
not connect to a computer.
The instrument's simple
design and rock-solid
optical bench produce
consistent, reliable results,
making it an excellent tool
for learning this technique.
This spectrometer is in
great operating order and
allows us to work with
many groups of students
on AA at the same time.
Application of
Mass
Spectrometry
Applications of mass
spectrometry in proteomics
Identification of posttranslational
modifications, peptide sequencing, and
the characterization of proteins and
protein complexes
Applications of mass
spectrometry in metabolomics
Cancer detection and diagnosis,
study of the global metabolic fingerprint,
identification and characterization of
biomarkers, production and use of
biofuels, lipidomics research, and
profiling of metabolic disorders.
Applications of mass spectrometry
in environmental analysis

Testing of drinking water, detection

and quantification of pesticides,
evaluation of soil contamination,
monitoring of carbon dioxide and
pollution, and analysis of trace elements
in heavy metal leaching.
Applications of mass spectrometry
in pharmaceutical analysis

Metabolite screening,
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
analysis, drug discovery, absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and elimination
research, and preclinical development.
Applications of mass spectrometry
in forensic analysis

Examination of trace evidence

(such as carpet fibers and paint
polymers), fire accelerant analysis
during arson investigations, affirmation
of drug addiction, and detection of
explosive residues (bombing
investigation).
Clinical applications of mass
spectrometry

Clinical drug development, Phase

0 investigations, clinical trials, disease
screening, drug therapy monitoring,
study of peptides used in diagnostic
testing, and recognition of infectious
agents for individualized therapeutics.
Advantages and
Disadvantages of
Atomic Mass
Spectrometry
Advantages of Mass Spectrometry:

1.A major advantage of mass spectrometry than other

technologies is that it is extremely sensitive.
2.It is an exceptional technique to identify unknown
components in a sample solution.
3.It can work combining with other techniques, such as
high-performance liquid chromatography (LC-MS) and
gas chromatography (GC-MS).
4.It is a very precise, rapid, and sensitive method.
5.It works with very small sample quantities which are in
parts per million (PPM).
6.This gives the relative molecular mass of every
molecule.
Disadvantages of Mass Spectrometry:

1.The main disadvantage of mass spectrometry is that it

is costly, need a skilled technician, and it is not a portable
system.
2.We will be unable to differentiate among isomers of the
molecule with the same charge-to-mass ratio.
3.Chiral columns may be required to separate
enantiomers.
4.The disadvantages of the mass spectrophotometer are
that it is not nice to recognizing hydrocarbons that
generate parallel ions and is unable to separate optical
and geometric isomers.
THANK YOU!!