Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry is a technique used to analyze the molecular composition of a sample. The word "bombardment" is spelled /bɒmˈbɑːd mənt/ with a silent "b" and the stress on the second syllable. "Spectrometry" is spelled /spɛkˈtrɒm ɪ tri/ with the stress on the second syllable. The word "mass" is spelled /mæs/ with the "a" sound as in "cat", and the stress on the first syllable. "Atom" is spelled /ˈæt əm/ with the "a" sound as in "hat", and the stress on the first syllable.
Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) is an analytical technique used in chemistry to identify and analyze the structure of organic molecules by measuring their mass-to-charge ratios. It involves the bombardment of a sample with high-energy atoms, usually from an ion gun, resulting in the production of ions in the gas phase. These ions are then analyzed in a mass spectrometer to determine their molecular weights and fragment patterns.
In FAB-MS, the high-energy atoms collide with the sample molecules, causing them to ionize and release secondary ions. These ions are typically positively charged and can be formed by protonation or deprotonation of the sample molecules. The ions are accelerated and focused into the mass spectrometer through an electric field, where they are separated based on their mass-to-charge ratios using magnetic or electric fields.
The resulting mass spectrum provides information on the molecular weight of the sample ions as well as their fragmentation patterns, which can be used to identify the structure of the original molecules. FAB-MS is particularly useful for the analysis of large, non-volatile, and polar organic compounds that are challenging to analyze using other mass spectrometry techniques.
Overall, Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for characterizing complex organic molecules and elucidating their structures, making it a valuable technique in fields such as pharmaceuticals, forensic analysis, and environmental science.