m
 



m The relative atomic mass, Ar, of an atom of an element is the

weighted average mass, taking into account all of its
naturally occurring isotopes, relative to 1/12 the mass of
Carbon 12.

m The relative molecular mass, Mr, is the average mass of a

molecule, relative to 1/12 the mass of carbon 12.

m The relative isotopic mass is the mass of an isotope, relative to

1/12 the mass of carbon 12
  The gas particles are  
 These positive ions are then
attracted to the negatively charged plates. Some
bombarded by high energy electrons, ions go through the apertures in these plates,
which knocks electrons off the sample where they are concentrated into a beam.
particles, making the into positively
charged ions
    The
magnetic field
M   strength is slowly
the sample is increased. As this
turned into a gas happens, different
using an electrical ions (ones with a
heater. lower mass/charge
ratio first) can reach
the detector. A tiny
 

 The positive ion·s paths current is formed for
are altered with a magnetic field. every ion that hits
Lighter ions have less momentum so are the detector, this is
deflected more than heavier ions. For a then amplified and
given magnetic field, only ions with a fed to a computer
particular mass/charge ratio make it to where a mass
the detector. spectrum is formed.
 To find the
relative atomic
This is the mass of an,
amount of multiply each
each isotope abundance by
as a the mass/charge
percentage. ratio. Add up all
of these values,
then divide by
100.

When calculating the Mr, the last peak is the answer, as the
other peaks are fragments of the whole molecule, and are
not the actual molecule itself.