Time of Flight

Definition

In the context of mass spectrometry, particularly within biological chemistry, Time of Flight (TOF) is a technique that measures the time it takes for ionized particles to travel through a vacuum tube to reach a detector. The measurement allows for the determination of the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules, aiding in their identification.

Related terms

Mass: to-charge ratio - The ratio of an ion’s mass to its charge, crucial for identifying substances in mass spectrometry.

Ionization:

The process by which atoms or molecules are converted into ions, usually by removing one or more electrons.

Detector:

A device used in mass spectrometry that captures and records ions after they have been separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio