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A spectroscope works by breaking light into the wavelengths (or spectra) that make it up. Some spectroscopes are made of diffraction grating- a material that has lots of little parallel lines that are approximately one wavelength apart. There may be 35,000 of these little lines in one inch of the material. When light hits the lines, it bends. Different wavelengths (colors) of light bend by different amounts, so it splits the light into its colors. Other spectroscopes are made of prisms- as light passes through the glass, the different wavelengths slow down by different amounts and are bent into their colors. Scientists can tell the elements present in a star by looking at its light through a spectroscope. Each element will have its own unique spectral lines of color, just as people each have a unique fingerprint.

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What scientific instrument was used to discover that not all atoms of neon have the same mass?

The mass spectrometer was used to discover that not all atoms of neon have the same mass. This instrument separates and measures atoms based on their mass-to-charge ratio, allowing scientists to identify isotopes of elements like neon that have different masses.


What is used to ionize indium in a mass spectrometer?

Indium can be ionized in a mass spectrometer using an ionization source such as electrospray ionization (ESI) or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization. These sources generate ions from the indium sample, which are then analyzed in the mass spectrometer for determination of elemental composition or isotopic ratios.


What is the name of the instrument used to measure the relative abundance of an isotope?

A mass spectrometer is the instrument used to measure the relative abundance of an isotope. It does this by separating isotopes based on their mass-to-charge ratio and providing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the isotopic composition of a sample.


What is the difference between Aston's mass spectrometer and Dumpsters mass spectrometer?

Aston's mass spectrometer was developed by Francis William Aston in 1919 and used a magnetic field to separate ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, providing a more accurate measurement of atomic weights. On the other hand, "Dumpster's mass spectrometer" does not refer to a specific instrument or technique in the field of mass spectrometry; it seems to be a typographical error or confusion.


How does a mass spectrometer work to analyze samples?

A mass spectrometer works by ionizing a sample, separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and detecting and measuring the abundance of each ion to determine the composition of the sample.

Related Questions

What is the device used to determine atomic masses?

A mass spectrometer is a device used to determine atomic masses by separating and measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. By analyzing the deflection of ions in a magnetic or electric field, the mass spectrometer can provide accurate measurements of atomic masses.


What matter is a mass spectrometer used to get information from?

plants


What is used to measure amounts of isotopes?

mass spectrometer


How do you distinguish isotopes by mass spectrometer?

Isotopes can be distinguished by a mass spectrometer based on their differing atomic masses. The mass spectrometer ionizes a sample, separates the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and then detects the abundance of each ion. The relative abundance of each isotope gives a unique mass spectrum that can be used to identify and quantify isotopes in a sample.


What scientific instrument was used to discover that not all atoms of neon have the same mass?

The mass spectrometer was used to discover that not all atoms of neon have the same mass. This instrument separates and measures atoms based on their mass-to-charge ratio, allowing scientists to identify isotopes of elements like neon that have different masses.


What is the difference between Aston's mass spectrograph and Dempster's mass spectrometer?

Aston's mass spectrograph is a magnetic sector mass spectrometer that separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio using magnetic and electric fields. Dempster's mass spectrometer is an early design of a mass spectrometer that used electric and magnetic fields to separate ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Aston's design was an improvement over Dempster's, offering higher resolution and precision in analyzing isotopic composition.


What is a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer?

A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) is an analytical instrument used to separate and identify chemical compounds in a mixture. The gas chromatography component separates the compounds based on their physical properties, while the mass spectrometer identifies the compounds based on their mass-to-charge ratio. This powerful technique is commonly used in forensics, environmental analysis, and drug testing.


What is used to ionize indium in a mass spectrometer?

Indium can be ionized in a mass spectrometer using an ionization source such as electrospray ionization (ESI) or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization. These sources generate ions from the indium sample, which are then analyzed in the mass spectrometer for determination of elemental composition or isotopic ratios.


What is the name of the instrument used to measure the relative abundance of an isotope?

A mass spectrometer is the instrument used to measure the relative abundance of an isotope. It does this by separating isotopes based on their mass-to-charge ratio and providing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the isotopic composition of a sample.


What instrument measures masses of ions in isotopes?

A mass spectrometer is the instrument used to measure masses of ions in isotopes. It works by ionizing the sample and then separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, providing information on the isotopic composition of an element.


What instrument measures atomic mass?

A mass spectrometer is an instrument that measures the atomic mass of atoms and molecules. It does this by ionizing the sample and then separating the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. The resulting mass spectrum provides information on the relative abundance of different isotopes present in the sample.


How do you determine the mass of atom using mass spectrometer?

Actually in mass spectrometer the isotopes of an element are separated by applying magnetic field.Each isotope is then compared with carbon-12 to get the atomic mass of that isotope.