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A metastable ion peak is a broad peak which appears at non-integral values of m/e in a mass spectrum. It is formed by a fragment ion. An unstable molecule such as an alcohol can undergo fragmentation during ionization ( collision with high energy electrons in ionization chamber of the mass spectrometer ) to give rise to a fragment ion. This fragment ion is also called the metastable ion.

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What is the difference between base peak and molecular ion peak in mass spectra?

Electron ionization mass spectra have several distinct sets of peaks: the molecular ion, isotope peaks, fragmentation peaks, metastable peaks. In the mass spectra the molecular ion peak is often most intense, but can be weak or missing. The molecular ion is a radical cation (M+.) as a result of removing one electron from the molecule. Identification of the molecular ion can be difficult. Examining organic compounds, the relative intensity of the molecular ion peak diminishes with branching and with increasing mass in a homologous series. In the spectrum for toluene for example, the molecular ion peak is located at 92 m/z corresponding to its molecular mass. Molecular ion peaks are also often preceded by a M-1 or M-2 peak resulting from loss of a hydrogen radical or dihydrogen. The peak with the highest intensity is called the base peak which is not necessarily the molecular ion. More peaks may be visible with m/z ratios larger than the molecular ion peak due to isotope distributions, called isotope peaks. The value of 92 in the toluene example corresponds to themonoisotopic mass of a molecule of toluene entirely composed of the most abundant isotopes (1H and 12C). The so-called M+1 peak corresponds to a fraction of the molecules with one higher isotope incorporated (2H or 13C) and the M+2 peak has two higher isotopes. The natural abundance of the higher isotopes is low for frequently encountered elements such as hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen and the intensity of isotope peaks subsequently low. In halogens on the other hand, higher isotopes have a large abundance which results in a specific mass signature in the mass spectrum of halogen containing compounds. Peaks with mass less than the molecular ion are the result of fragmentation of the molecule. Many reaction pathways exist for fragmentation, but only newly formed cations will show up in the mass spectrum, not radical fragments or neutral fragments. Metastable peaks are broad peaks with low intensity at non-integer mass values. These peaks result from ions with lifetimes shorter than the time needed to traverse the distance between ionization chamber and the detector.


How can one identify the molecular ion peak in mass spectrometry analysis"?

In mass spectrometry analysis, the molecular ion peak can be identified by looking for the peak with the highest mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) that corresponds to the molecular weight of the compound being analyzed.


How can one determine the number of carbons in a compound using mass spectrometry?

To determine the number of carbons in a compound using mass spectrometry, scientists analyze the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak represents the molecular weight of the compound, which can be used to calculate the number of carbons based on the known atomic weight of carbon.


What is dynamic metastable equilibrium?

Dynamic Metastable Equilibrium as it relates to Geomorphology describes a system threshold that changes dramatically through time, in an otherwise steady system. In other words, it is a combination of dynamic equilibrium and metastable equlibrium. An example would be changing sea level as it respositions shorelines these changes typically ocurr over thousands of years.


What information is conveyed by the m in 99mTc?

The "m" in 99mTc indicates that the technetium is in a metastable state. This means that the technetium is in an excited nuclear state that will decay to a more stable state by emitting gamma radiation. Metastable technetium is commonly used in nuclear medicine imaging.

Related Questions

What is metastable ion in mass spectroscopy?

A metastable ion in mass spectrometry is an ion that has been excited to a higher energy state but has not yet undergone fragmentation. These ions can exhibit unique fragmentation patterns different from those of ground-state ions, providing additional structural information. Metastable ions are often formed in collision-induced dissociation experiments.


What is the difference between base peak and molecular ion peak in mass spectra?

Electron ionization mass spectra have several distinct sets of peaks: the molecular ion, isotope peaks, fragmentation peaks, metastable peaks. In the mass spectra the molecular ion peak is often most intense, but can be weak or missing. The molecular ion is a radical cation (M+.) as a result of removing one electron from the molecule. Identification of the molecular ion can be difficult. Examining organic compounds, the relative intensity of the molecular ion peak diminishes with branching and with increasing mass in a homologous series. In the spectrum for toluene for example, the molecular ion peak is located at 92 m/z corresponding to its molecular mass. Molecular ion peaks are also often preceded by a M-1 or M-2 peak resulting from loss of a hydrogen radical or dihydrogen. The peak with the highest intensity is called the base peak which is not necessarily the molecular ion. More peaks may be visible with m/z ratios larger than the molecular ion peak due to isotope distributions, called isotope peaks. The value of 92 in the toluene example corresponds to themonoisotopic mass of a molecule of toluene entirely composed of the most abundant isotopes (1H and 12C). The so-called M+1 peak corresponds to a fraction of the molecules with one higher isotope incorporated (2H or 13C) and the M+2 peak has two higher isotopes. The natural abundance of the higher isotopes is low for frequently encountered elements such as hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen and the intensity of isotope peaks subsequently low. In halogens on the other hand, higher isotopes have a large abundance which results in a specific mass signature in the mass spectrum of halogen containing compounds. Peaks with mass less than the molecular ion are the result of fragmentation of the molecule. Many reaction pathways exist for fragmentation, but only newly formed cations will show up in the mass spectrum, not radical fragments or neutral fragments. Metastable peaks are broad peaks with low intensity at non-integer mass values. These peaks result from ions with lifetimes shorter than the time needed to traverse the distance between ionization chamber and the detector.


How can one identify the molecular ion peak in mass spectrometry analysis"?

In mass spectrometry analysis, the molecular ion peak can be identified by looking for the peak with the highest mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) that corresponds to the molecular weight of the compound being analyzed.


What radioactive decay processes have no transmutation?

Only gamma, it is the process by which a metastable excited nuclear isomer of an isotope relaxes down to the ground state of the same isotope. Some metastable states must undergo multiple gamma decays through less excited metastable states to reach the ground state.


What is metastable zone width?

The metastable zone width is the range of temperatures within which a substance can exist in a metastable state, meaning it is supercooled or supersaturated and undergoing phase transformation. It is important in processes like crystallization and pharmaceutical formulation to control the conditions for desired product properties.


Are metastable isotopes used in medicine?

Two isomers of technetium were used in medicine.


How can one determine the number of carbons in a compound using mass spectrometry?

To determine the number of carbons in a compound using mass spectrometry, scientists analyze the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak represents the molecular weight of the compound, which can be used to calculate the number of carbons based on the known atomic weight of carbon.


What is dynamic metastable equilibrium?

Dynamic Metastable Equilibrium as it relates to Geomorphology describes a system threshold that changes dramatically through time, in an otherwise steady system. In other words, it is a combination of dynamic equilibrium and metastable equlibrium. An example would be changing sea level as it respositions shorelines these changes typically ocurr over thousands of years.


Are mercury thermometers made out of a solids?

They are made out of glass which is a metastable solid.


What is the definition of Metastable state in laser?

In lasers, a metastable state is a state in which atoms or molecules are in an excited state with a longer-than-normal lifetime before emitting a photon and returning to a lower energy state. This allows for the accumulation of a population inversion necessary for laser action.


What information is conveyed by the m in 99mTc?

The "m" in 99mTc indicates that the technetium is in a metastable state. This means that the technetium is in an excited nuclear state that will decay to a more stable state by emitting gamma radiation. Metastable technetium is commonly used in nuclear medicine imaging.


How can you find the molecular mass of a substance from its mass spectrum?

Obtain the molecular mass by determining the m/z value of the molecular ion peak (rightmost in the spectrum).