Which of the following statements is wrong?a)A conventional mass spect...
Explanation of the Incorrect Statement
The statement that "A conventional mass spectrometer employs high energy UV radiation" is incorrect.
Understanding Mass Spectrometry
- Mass spectrometry is a technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions.
- It does not primarily use UV radiation; instead, it often employs methods such as electron impact, chemical ionization, or electrospray ionization to ionize samples.
Key Techniques in Mass Spectrometry
- **Electron Impact (EI)**: Utilizes high-energy electrons to ionize gaseous samples.
- **Chemical Ionization (CI)**: Involves ionizing a reagent gas, which then reacts with the sample.
- **Electrospray Ionization (ESI)**: Common for large biomolecules, where the sample is sprayed into a fine mist.
Why UV Radiation is Not Used
- UV radiation is more associated with techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy, which analyzes absorbance and concentration of compounds.
- In mass spectrometry, the focus is on generating ions from the sample, which is not achieved through UV radiation.
Other Options Explained
- **Option B**: Correct. Mass spectrometers do not use spectrophotometric detectors.
- **Option C**: Correct. Mass spectrometry can analyze samples of varying purities.
- **Option D**: Correct. Mass spectra display signals for charged species, not uncharged radicals.
Conclusion
In summary, mass spectrometers do not utilize high-energy UV radiation for ionization, making option A the incorrect statement among the provided options.