ABSTRACT
Mass spectrometry is an analytical-instrumental method, often used in association with other spectral data mainly for the purposes of determining the structures of organic compounds. The information obtained from the analyses of mass spectral data affords an excellent complement to IR, NMR, and UV spectra. The interpretation of the combined spectral data is often sufficient to establish the structure of the unknown compound. The mass spectrum of an unknown organic compound may also be computer searched against a large library of digitized mass spectra to establish structural identity. The mass spectrum may be looked upon as the "fingerprint" of a molecule. In other words, if two mass spectra are identical and obtained under the same conditions using the same instrument, this may be taken as evidence of identical compounds or closely related isomers. The popular quadrupole mass spectrometer is characterized by a non-magnetic mass filter, which is composed of four solid rods, arranged symmetrically along the direction of ion flow.
