Time of Flight (TOF)

Definition

In mass spectrometry, Time of Flight refers to the measurement of time it takes for ions to travel from the source to a detector at a known distance. The TOF is used to determine the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of ions, aiding in the identification of molecular structures.

Related terms

Mass Spectrometry: A technique used in chemistry to identify the composition of a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of its ions.

Ionization: The process by which atoms or molecules are converted into ions, typically by removing or adding electrons.

Mass: to-Charge Ratio (m/z) - A value representing the mass of an ion divided by its charge number, crucial for analyzing and identifying substances in mass spectrometry