Electron ionisation is a process in which high energy electrons are used to ionize atoms or molecules. This is done by colliding the electrons with the sample molecules, causing them to lose an electron and become positively charged ions.
An electric field is used in electron ionisation to accelerate the high energy electrons towards the sample molecules. This increases the chances of collision and ionization occurring.
The efficiency of electron ionisation increases with the strength of the electric field. This is because a stronger electric field can accelerate the electrons to higher energies, resulting in more collisions and ionisation events.
The efficiency of electron ionisation can be affected by the strength of the electric field, the type of sample being ionized, and the temperature and pressure of the ionization chamber. Additionally, the energy and direction of the electrons, as well as any interfering compounds in the sample, can also impact the efficiency.
Electron ionisation is commonly used in mass spectrometry, a powerful analytical technique used to identify and quantify molecules in a sample. In this technique, the ions produced by electron ionisation are separated and detected based on their mass-to-charge ratio, providing valuable information about the composition of the sample.