204k views
5 votes
In mass spectrometry analysis, what could be done to increase the number of multiply charged particles?

User Sumitsu
by
8.8k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

To increase multiply charged particles in mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) can be used to enhance ionization, particularly for large biomolecules, resulting in ions with higher charge states and lower mass-to-charge ratios.

Step-by-step explanation:

To increase the number of multiply charged particles in mass spectrometry analysis, techniques that enhance the ionization process are employed. The use of electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) can result in the formation of multiply charged ions, especially for large biomolecules such as proteins. In ESI, a solution of the sample is sprayed through a highly charged needle to create droplets, which undergo solvent evaporation and Coulomb fission to produce multiply charged ions. MALDI involves embedding the sample in a UV-absorbing matrix, and then striking it with a laser to produce ions with multiple charges. These methods are crucial in allowing mass spectrometers to analyze larger molecules by producing ions with a higher charge state, thus reducing the mass-to-charge ratio and making the particles more detectable within the mass spectrometer's range.

User Croc
by
8.6k points