Understand Mass Spectrometers: Separation and Analyzing

[wiccabean21]

Can anyone help me understand mass spectrometers?

Their separation and analyzing techniques? This isn't a homework question, I just am curious and want to know.

thanks

 

[uzair_ha91]

In mass spectrometer, isotopes are isolated and their atomic masses are determined.
This is done in a mass spectrometer, in which first the atoms are ionized, vaporized then accelerated (because of their positive charges by electrodes) and finally are deflected in a perpendicular magnetic field. Different isotopes are deflected in different angles (thus forming semicircles with different radii) and are detected by a detector in the from of a current.
(This depends on the mass of the ions)
Greater the number of isotopes striking the detector at a particular position gives the relative abundance of that particular isotope of an element whose atoms are being analyzed.