ABSTRACT
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique for creating gas-phase ions from the molecules or atoms in a sample, separating the ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio, m/z, and measuring the abundance of the ions formed. MS is currently one of the most rapidly advancing elds of instrumental analysis. It has developed from an inorganic method used to prove that most elements exist as isotopes of differing masses to one of the cornerstone techniques used to elucidate the structure of biomolecules, especially high molecular weight (MW) proteins. MS provides the analyst with information as diverse as the structure of complex organic and biomolecules to the quantitative determination of ppb concentrations of elements and molecules in samples.
