How GC-MS Separates and Identifies Compounds

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) separates compounds in a mixture and then identifies them. A gas chromatograph first splits the mixture into its parts. A mass spectrometer then analyzes each part on its own to determine molecular masses and molecular structures.

The gas chromatograph...

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, or GC–MS, combines gas chromatography and mass spectrometry in a single instrument for analyzing a mixture of compounds.

The gas chromatograph is used to separate the compounds, and the mass spectrometer is used to analyze the mass of each compound.

The chromatograph setup consists of a long, n...