key term - Molecular ion

Definition

A molecular ion is a molecule that has gained or lost an electron, resulting in a charged entity. In the context of mass spectrometry, it's often the starting point for fragmentation processes that help identify the structure of the molecule.

Related terms

Mass Spectrometry:

A technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to identify and quantify molecules in a sample.

Fragmentation: The process by which molecular ions break apart into smaller ions and neutral fragments, providing structural information about the original molecule.

Electron Impact Ionization: A common method in mass spectrometry where electrons are used to ionize a molecule, often leading to the formation of a molecular ion