Final answer:
The correct sequence for the stages of operation in a mass spectrometer is Ionization, Detection, Acceleration, Deflection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct sequence for the stages of operation in a mass spectrometer is:
C) Ionization, Detection, Acceleration, Deflection
1. Ionization: The sample is vaporized and exposed to a high-energy electron beam, causing the sample's atoms or molecules to become electrically charged
2. Detection: The ions are then detected, and a plot of the relative number of ions generated versus their mass-to-charge ratios (a mass spectrum) is made
3. Acceleration: Following detection, the ions are accelerated through a (variable) electric or magnetic field that deflects each cation's path to an extent that depends on both its mass and charge
4. Deflection: Finally, the ions' paths are deflected by the electric or magnetic field based on their mass-to-charge ratio, allowing them to be separated and analyzed