COSAM » Departments » Chemistry & Biochemistry » Facilities » massspec » Learn about mass spectrometry » MALDI-TOF » Basics of Mass Spectrometers

Mass spectrometry is the measurement of the mass (abbreviated m) of an ion divided by the charge state of that ion (symbolized with z).  Ions are elements or compounds that have lost or gained single or multiple electrons or protons resulting in a negative or positive charges.

m/z

If the ion has lost or gained a single proton or electron then the charge is one and ratio which is measured in the instrument results in the mass of the ion. 

m/z = m/1 = m

The instruments that measure the mass to charge ratio of ions are called mass spectrometers and they typically contain the components below.

 

 mass_spectrometer_basic.png

 

Here we focus on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. 



Last Updated: 01/07/2020