Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry

(GC-MS)
Pre lab

Analysis lab

Theory
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is an analytical method
where gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry is used to
identify substances. Here, mass spectrometry is a method that is
suited for analyzing pure compounds. Therefore, separation of the
compounds in a mixture is needed in order to identify the compound
with this method. In order to separate the mixture of compounds, gas
chromatograph is used where the compounds are separated using the
different boiling point of each compound and the mass spectrometer
converts molecules to ions and detect them by separating the ions
according to their mass and charge. This combined method is called
the

Gas

chromatography-Mass

spectrometry.

plot

called

chromatogram could be obtained from using this method where the

chromatogram identifies the retention time of each compound in the
mixture. The chromatogram obtained from the mass spectrometer
identifies the molecular weight of the compound providing the data to
identify the compound and also could observe various fragments
where we can see what kind of elements are contained in the exiting
compounds of the substance.

Applications and limitations

GC-MS is widely used in various fields such as analyzing particles of
the human body in gathering evidence in crime scenes, detecting
drugs and also detecting toxic poisons. Due to the decrease of cost and
higher accuracy of the equipment, GC-MS is also used in airports where
the equipment detects explosives. Moreover, since GC-MS could
determine compounds in minor concentrations, it is also used in the
medicine field where it is possible to test a newborn child with over
100

genetic

metabolic

disorders

using

the

equipment.

Gas

chromatography and Mass spectroscopy each has their limitations

where samples for GC are limited to volatile samples and the MS
requires the tendency for samples where it is degraded before
detection. These limitations could be resolved by using both methods
where it is a invaluable tool in identifying molecules.

Application used in this experiment

GC-MS is a combined technique where it uses the separating power
of the GC and the detecting ability of the MS. The prepared samples
will be injected to the sample inlet and will be separated in the column
oven area where the sample is separated the molecules in the sample
to ions. The temperature of the oven ranges from 5C to 400C where
it separates the sample using the boiling points of the ions.After that,
the separated ions are sent to the MS detector where an ion beam
emerged from the mass analyzer that generates a signal from incident
ions. The gas phase ions are detected from the MS and are shown in
the data that shows the mass of the separated ions. Here, specific
compound identifications are possible. The process is shown in the
GC/MS diagram.

Reference
[1] "Mass Spectroscopy." California Institute of Technology, 22 Aug. 2009. Web.
<http://theory.caltech.edu/~politzer/supplements/mass-spectroscopy.pdf>.

[2] "Mass Spectroscopy Fundamental GC-MS Introduction." Chrome Academy. Web.

<http://forensicscienceeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Fundamental_GCMS_Introduction.pdf>.