Using nitrobenzene as an example, various ways in which a contemporary mass spectrometer can be utilized to yield a wealth of information about the compound studied are reviewed. Applying a variety of different techniques and procedures, in addition to the conventional low resolution mass spectrum, the following nitrobenzene spectra have been obtained: collision induced dissociation mass spectrum, mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, collision induced dissociation mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, spectra obtained at constant B/E, spectra obtained at constant B2/E, high voltage scans of metastable ion fragmentation processes, consecutive fragmentations in different field free regions, charge exchange mass spectra, charge stripping mass spectra, doubly charged ion mass spectra, chemical ionization mass spectra, negative ion mass spectra, negative ion mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, negative ion mass analysed ion kinetic energy collision induced dissociation spectra, charge inversion spectra, etc. The complementary types of information available from the above studies are discussed to show the unique versatility of mass spectrometry as a technique for the examination of organic compounds.

The modern mass spectrometer—a complete chemical laboratory

A linked magnetic field-electric sector scan for which (B/E) is constant selectively records first field free region metastable peaks representing loss of the same neutral fragment. The constant neutral metastable ion spectra produced by this scan should provide information about the presence and location of particular functional groups beyond that which is available from focused mass spectra. Constant neutral linked scans can be obtained consecutively with focused spectra and with B/E and B2/E linked scans by simple extension of a computerized B-E scanning method developed previously.

The constant neutral linked magnetic field electric sector scan

Determination of translational energy release distributions through analysis of metastable peaks

The energetics of the formation of positive ions produced by charge-stripping from negative ions

The angular distribution of fragment ions produced from polyatomic ion collisions

A detailed study of the effect of instrumental parameters on the shape of a mike peak

The various methods of measuring the magnetic field applied to ions traversing mass spectrometers are reviewed. The problems inherent in the Hall probe method are discussed and ways of improving the device are evaluated. An instrument has been built as a result of the suggested improvements and its improved accuracy and linearity are demonstrated.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3735/12/10/022/pdf

A.G. Brenton

Papers

A detailed study of the effect of instrumental parameters on the shape of a mike peak

Improved accuracy and linearity of Hall probes and their application to linked scans

Improving the signal-to-noise ratio in mass and ion kinetic energy spectrometers