molecular ion
Quick Summary
An ion is an atom or molecule that has an electrical charge due to gaining or losing electrons. Positively charged ions are called cations, and negatively charged ions are called anions. Ions are fundamental to many chemical processes and are utilized in techniques like mass spectrometry to analyze substances.1234
In mass spectrometry, electron bombardment is a common method to ionize molecules, creating molecular ions. These ions can then be fragmented, providing a unique "fingerprint" that helps identify the original molecule. High-resolution mass spectrometry allows for extremely precise mass measurements of these molecular ions, aiding in the determination of their chemical formulas.34
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
mass spectrometryField ionization…is little fragmentation of the molecular ions, making molecular formulas easier to determine.
Read More…is little fragmentation of the molecular ions, making molecular formulas easier to determine.
Read More
chemical compoundMass spectrometry…charged molecule known as a molecular ion, which results from the removal of one electron from the molecule. The molecular ion can subsequently break apart into smaller fragments. The positively charged fragments (which for simplicity are considered here to bear only a single positive charge) are then accelerated by an…
Read More…charged molecule known as a molecular ion, which results from the removal of one electron from the molecule. The molecular ion can subsequently break apart into smaller fragments. The positively charged fragments (which for simplicity are considered here to bear only a single positive charge) are then accelerated by an…
Read More