In mass spectrometry, a molecule is ionized and its migration rate in an electrical field is determined. What information does the migration rate tell about the molecule?
A) It indicates mass because small molecules migrate more rapidly than larger molecules.
B) It indicates electrical charge because negatively charged molecules migrate more rapidly than positively charged molecules.
C) It indicates the solubility of the molecule because insoluble molecules form aggregates and migrate much more slowly than soluble molecules.
D) It indicates the relative abundance of the molecule in the sample.
E) It indicates the complexity of the proteome because greater proteome diversity takes a longer time to process.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The migration rate in mass spectrometry is primarily used to determine the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of ions. Smaller ions or ions with a higher charge migrate more rapidly, indicating their mass.

In Mass Spectrometry, a Molecule Is Ionized and Its Migration