mass spectrometry

noun

: an instrumental method for identifying the chemical constitution of a substance by means of the separation of gaseous ions according to their differing mass and charge

called also mass spectroscopy

mass spectrometric adjective

mass spectrometer noun

Examples of mass spectrometry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers used mass spectrometry methods to detect benzene in 111 new, unopened products stored at room temperature on shelves of major U.S. retailers. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024

Even a tiny trace of a modern bird in the mass spectrometry lab (e.g., someone eating a turkey sandwich) is liable to produce a few protein fragments that show up in the experiment. —Steven Salzberg, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Just a phase Using both laser ablation (a type of laser imaging that reveals how elements and isotopes are distributed in a sample) and plasma mass spectrometry, the researchers determined the uranium-lead ratio. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2024

After dissecting the sharks in the lab, the team tested muscle and liver tissue using a standard technique called liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. —Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 19 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mass spectrometry

noun

: an instrumental method for identifying the chemical constitution of a substance by means of the separation of gaseous ions according to their differing mass and charge

called also mass spectroscopy

mass spectrometric adjective

mass spectrometrically adverb