What is mass spectrometry and how does it work?

What is mass spectrometry? Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to determine molecular mass. It is the analysis of proteins and other molecules involving ionization and measurement of the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio of the resulting ions, enabling the identification of molecules in pure samples and complex mixtures. Applications of mass spectrometry Pharmaceutical research: identifying active pharmaceutical ingredients, metabolites and impurities. Proteomics: studying protein structures, post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. Environmental sciences: detecting pollutants, toxins and contaminants in air, water or soil. Forensic sciences: analyzing drugs or biological samples for criminal investigations. Clinical diagnostics: identifying and quantifying molecules in routine clinical tests, disease screening and therapeutic drug monitoring. Mass spectrometry: step by step Step 1: Ionization Mass spectrometry begins with the vaporization of the sample, converting it into...