Topic 26: Mass Spectrometry - Theory

26.1What is the principle behind mass spectrometry?
 
26.2What is a radical in the context of chemistry?
 
26.3What are molecular fragments in the context of mass spectrometry, and why do we see them?
 
26.4What usually is the charge of the observed species in mass spectrometry? How are these charges produced?
 
26.5What does probability have to do with mass spectrometry?
 

Topic 27: Mass Spectrometry - Practice

27.1What is a molecular ion?
 
27.2Where do we find the molecular ion on a mass spec?
 
27.3What is the base peak? Use the language of probability.
 
27.4Why do we always either use the mass of a fragment itself or measure back from the molecular ion when considering fragmentation (never ever measuring between two fragments)?
 
27.5Why are the fragments of a compound with the formula CxHyOz generally odd mass, such as 79, 87, or 111, not even?
 
27.6How can we tell using mass spec if our compound has a chlorine in it?
 
27.7How can we tell using mass spec if our compound has a bromine in it?
 
27.8What happens quite generally with alcohols that causes trouble for us in analyzing mass spectra?
 
27.9What are three ways that mass spectrometry can help us identify a compound if we already have NMR and IR spectra?
 
27.10What is high resolution mass spectrometry? Why is this sooooo useful in organic synthesis?
 
15 questions
364 questions for Organic I

364 Questions for Organic I

Dearest Student. This web page is a set of questions I call Detailed Intended Learning Outcomes For Organic Chemistry (Part I). Some time ago I asked myself, "Bob, what do you think are the key questions that you hope students will be able to answer after taking Chemistry 247 at St. Olaf College?" So here you have them. Some are very simple; some require more thought. All are good questions to be thinking about as you read, discuss, and master the practical aspects of organic chemistry. They are discussion starters and review tips. There are no answers here (though there are some clues). The questions are here to help you focus on what's important (to me, at least!) and organize your learning process. The questions are grouped into topics. Bite-size chunks. Take them a few at a time. Don't feast on them all at one sitting!

(preliminary version 2021.01.15 feeback: Bob Hanson)