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Contrast gas chromatography with and without a mass spectrometer detector. Describe the advantages of the latter technique.

Answer :

Final answer:

Gas chromatography breaks down substances while a mass spectrometer separates ionized molecules, helping in the identification of unknown substances. The technique is employed in chemistry, forensic science, law enforcement and medicine. Mass spectrometry offers enhanced substance identification when used alongside gas chromatography.

Explanation:

In answering the question to contrast gas chromatography with and without a mass spectrometer detector, both techniques are beneficial for different purposes. Gas chromatography alone helps break down a substance, while when used with a mass spectrometer, it can help identify unknown substances. This is because, in the second technique, the gas chromatography portion breaks down the substance and the mass spectrometer separates the resulting ionized molecules.

The mass spectrometer works by vaporizing the sample and exposing it to a high-energy electron beam, causing the sample's atoms or molecules to become electrically charged. This results in ions that then pass through an electric or magnetic field. The ions' path is deflected based on its mass and charge. The ions are then detected, and a plot of the relative number of ions versus their mass-to-charge ratios (a mass spectrum) is produced.

The benefits of using a mass spectrometer in conjunction with gas chromatography are apparent in fields like chemistry, forensics, medicine, environmental science, etc. because it allows for more detailed chemical analysis in a wider range of applications. For instance, in law enforcement, this pair of techniques is used to identify illegal drugs, or in medicine, to measure the concentration of isotopes used as tracers. Hence, while gas chromatography is effective in substance breakdown, the use of a mass spectrometer detector enhances substance identification.

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