The Relative Abundance of Molecular Ions in Mass Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry: The relative abundance of Molecular Ions

Molecular ions play an essential role in mass spectrometry for the identification and measurement of molecules. When an ionized molecular molecule is bombarded by electrons, it forms molecular ions. This results in the cleavage and formation of ionized fragments. It is crucial to know the molecular identity by analyzing the number of each of these molecular elements. To determine the molecular Ion with highest intensity (most abundant) we’ll use two molecules. One oxygen atom is found in Molecule B, while one potassium atom can be found in Molecule C. In mass spectrometry, the presence of a heavy element, such as an oxygen or potassium atom, can cause a decrease in the number of molecular Ions in the molecule. The reason is that the heavier atom makes it harder for the molecular to fracture when subjected to electron bombardment. Mass spectrometry will show that molecule A produces a molecular ion with a higher intensity (more abundant) than molecule B.