Question

How does tandem mass spectrometry work?

Answer 1

Hint: Tandem mass spectrometry is the technique used in instrumental analysis where two or more mass analyzers are used and coupled together to increase the ability to analyse the chemical samples.

Complete step by step answer:
Tandem mass spectrometry is also said as MS/MS or $M{S^2}$. The tandem mass spectrometry involves multiple steps of mass spectrometry selection. Mass spectrometry is a powerful technique utilized for chemical analysis and to identify the unknown compounds, to determine the quantity of known compounds, and to explain the molecular structure.
Tandem mass spectrometer is a single instrument which uses two or more mass analyzers. Simplest form of Tandem mass spectrometer contains two mass spectrometers (MS/MS) present in series which are connected by a chamber called as a collision cell. The sample which needs to be examined is sorted and weighed in the first mass spectrometer, after that it is then broken into small pieces in the collision cell, and these pieces are sorted and weighed in the second mass spectrometer. In tandem mass spectrometers two or more quadrupoles are present, where the collision cell separates each quadrupole. The sample is first separated by chromatography, then the substances go through an initial quadrupole where the mixture of ions separates and allows only certain ions known as precursor ions, passage to the collision cell. The first quadrupole is utilized to select user-specified sample ions from a specific component, usually the molecular-related ions present within the collision cell the precursor-ions also called as “parent ions” are then bombarded using an inert gas like xenon, argon and again broken down into different charged and product ions. These production ions also called “daughter ions” are then run through an additional quadrupole where they further separate the ions. This process can be repeated several times in order to obtain highly specific readings.

Note: Tandem mass spectrometers have several applications like clinical testing, toxicology, cancer, diabetes, drugs of abuse, inborn errors of metabolism – newborn screening. It is used to analyse the biomolecules such as protein and peptides.