ABSTRACT
Mass spectrometry is one of the most versatile methods discussed in this encyclopedia. Ask a chemist involved in synthesis about mass spectrometry and they will answer that it is one of their most useful tools for identifying reaction products. An analytical chemist will indicate that mass spectrometry is one of the most sensitive detectors available for quantitative and qualitative analysis and is especially powerful when coupled to a separation technique such as gas chromatography. A physicist may note that high resolution mass spectrometry has been responsible for the accurate determination of the atomic masses listed in the periodic table. Biologists use mass spectrometry to identify high molecular weight proteins and nucleic acids and even for sequencing peptides. Materials scientists use mass spectrometry for characterizing the composition and properties of polymers and metal surfaces.
