Talk:Mass/Charge Ratio Comments: Difference between revisions

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Now, if [q] is the elementary charge, n will always be a whole number. Whole numbers are often indicated with z. Therefore in this special case we could write:
Now, if [q] is the elementary charge, n will always be a whole number. Whole numbers are often indicated with z. Therefore in this special case we could write:
: ''q'' = z x '''e'''
: ''q'' = z x '''e'''
This means z is not the symbol of charge (as it is used by mass spectrometrists '''m/z'''), it is only the numerical factor belonging to the unit. Hence z is the number that you read from the x-axis and should not appear in the label.
This means z is not the symbol of charge (as it is used by mass spectrometrists ('''m/z'''), it is only the numerical factor belonging to the unit. Hence z is the number that you read from the x-axis and should not appear in the label.
Compare this with a length measurement:
Compare this with a length measurement:
: ''l'' = n [''l''] or, when measuring in meters:  ''l'' = n '''m'''
: ''l'' = n [''l''] or, when measuring in meters:  ''l'' = n '''m'''
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Obviuosly, everyone in MS wants to measure the mass in amu and the charge in elementary charge units.
Obviously, everyone in MS wants to measure the mass in amu and the charge in elementary charge units.
: ''m'' = n [''m'']  if [''m''] is amu it becomes:  ''m'' = n '''u'''
: ''m'' = n [''m'']  if [''m''] is amu it becomes:  ''m'' = n '''u'''
: ''q'' = n [''q'']  turns into ''q'' = n '''e'''  or maybe ''q'' = z '''e''' as argued above.
: ''q'' = n [''q'']  turns into ''q'' = n '''e'''  or maybe ''q'' = z '''e''' as argued above.

Revision as of 09:20, 7 January 2006