GC-MS

GC-MS

1. choose a substance to separate

   • It will travel through a column carried by a gas
     • the column is packed with solid material
       • the different substances in the compound travel at different speeds
         • the time taken for a substance to travel through the column can be used to help identify the sunstance
           • the number of peaks on the output shows the number of compounds present
             • the position of the peaks on the output indicates the retention time
               • the output can be linked to a mass spectrometer which can be used to identify the substances leaving the end of the column
                 • a mass spectrometer can identify substances quickly and accurately
                   • the mass spectrometer can give the molecular mass of each substance
                     • the molecular mass is given by the molecular ion peak