Revision NotesExam QuestionsPast Papers
A LevelChemistryCIEExam Questions22. Analytical Techniques22.2 Mass Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry (CIE A Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

1 hour30 questions

Select a question set to download for
22.2 Mass Spectrometry

Select an answer set to view for
22.2 Mass Spectrometry

Easy
Medium
Hard
11 mark

Which of the following corresponds to the base peak in a mass spectrum?

  • The peak corresponding to the ion with lowest m/e.

  • The peak corresponding to the molecular ion.

  • The peak corresponding to any ion formed by the fragmentation of the molecule.

  • The peak corresponding to the most abundant ion.

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

21 mark

The diagram shows the structure of ricinoleic acid.

4-1-e-2

Which fragment would produce the tallest peak in the mass spectrum of ricinoleic acid at m/e = 55?

  • CH2CO2+

  • CH═CHCHOH+

  • C4H7+

  • COOH+

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

31 mark

In a mass spectrometer, the ions are separated.

Which of the following species will be deflected to the greatest extent?

  • 37Na+

  • 35Na+

  • 37Na

  • 35Na2+

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

41 mark

A sample of silicon contains the following isotopes

Isotope

Percentage abundance

28Si

81.21

29Si

14.10

30Si

4.69

What is the relative atomic mass of silicon in this sample, to 1dp?

  • 29.8

  • 29.0

  • 28.2

  • 28.0

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

51 mark

Chlorine exists as two isotopes with mass numbers 35 and 37. A sample of chlorine contains 75.3% of chlorine-35 atoms.

What is the relative atomic mass of chlorine in this sample, to 2dp?

  • 35.16

  • 36.00

  • 35.49

  • 35.00

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

61 mark

A sample of neon contains the following isotopes

Isotope

Percentage abundance

20Ne

90.92

21Ne

0.26

22Ne

8.82

What is the relative atomic mass of neon in this sample, to 2dp?

  • 21.00

  • 20.18

  • 20.09

  • 20.00

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

71 mark

Nitrogen trichloride has the formula NCl3, a sample was found to contain only nitrogen atoms with mass number 14, and chlorine atoms with mass numbers 35 and 37.

Which of the following ions and mass/charge ratio for the ions responsible for the molecular ion peaks in the mass spectrum of nitrogen trichloride is incorrect?

 

Ion

m/e

A

N(35Cl)3+

119

B

N(35Cl)237Cl+

121

C

N35Cl(37Cl)2+

123

D

N(37Cl)2+

125

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    81 mark

    The mass spectrum of silicon is shown below.

    4-1-e-9

    What is the best estimate for the relative atomic mass of silicon in this sample?

    • 29.0

    • 28.8

    • 28.3

    • 28.0

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    Which alcohol is not likely to have a fragment ion at m/e at 43 in its mass spectrum?

    • (CH3)2CHCH2OH

    • CH3CH(OH)CH2CH2CH3

    • CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

    • CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    Which of the compounds below is not likely to have a fragment ion at m/e = 43 in its mass spectrum?

    • 4-1-m-2a

    • 4-1-m-2b

    • 4-1-m-2c

    • 4-1-m-2d

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    31 mark

    Assuming that chlorine has only two isotopes and hydrogen and carbon as one, how many molecular ion peaks will be shown in the mass spectrum of C4H6Cl4?

    • 5

    • 4

    • 3

    • 2

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    41 mark

    Bromine exists as two isotopes 79Br and 81Br, which are found in almost equal abundance.

    Which of the following statements is correct?

    • 79Br is more reactive than 81Br.

    • The mass spectrum of C3H7Br has two molecular ion peaks at 122 and 124.

    • The atomic radius of 79Br is less than the atomic radius of 81Br.

    • The first ionisation energy of 79Br is less than the first ionisation energy of 81Br.

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    51 mark

    Which alcohol is likely to have a fragment ion at m/e = 31 in its mass spectrum?

    • (CH3)2CHCH2OH

    • CH3CH(OH)CH2CH2CH3

    • CH3CH2CH2C(OH)(CH3)2

    • CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    61 mark

    Which pair of compounds would you expect to both have a singly charged peak at m/e = 29 in the mass spectrum?

    • Propan-1-ol and propanal

    • Propanal and propanone

    • Propan-2-ol and propanal

    • Propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    71 mark

    Which of the ketones listed would not be expected to have a peak in its mass spectrum at m/e = 57?

    • Hexan-3-one, CH3CH2CH2COCH2CH3

    • Pentan-3-one, CH3CH2COCH2CH3

    • 3-methylbutanone, (CH3)2CHCOCH3

    • Butanone, CH3CH2COCH3

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    81 mark

    Chlorine has two isotopes, 35Cl and 37Cl. 

    What is the number of molecular ion peaks in the mass spectrum of a sample of Cl2?

    • 5

    • 4

    • 3

    • 2

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    91 mark

    Which of the following statements about the mass spectrum of CH3Br is correct?

    • There is one peak for the molecular ion with an m/e value of 44.

    • There is one peak for the molecular ion with an m/e value of 95.

    • The last two peaks have abundances in the ratio 3:1 and occur at m/e values of 94 and 96.

    • The last two peaks are of equal size and occur at m/e values of 94 and 96.

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    Two stable isotopes of bromine have relative masses of 79 and 81. 

    Which is the correct pattern of peaks in the mass spectrum of molecular bromine?

    • b0gDg7dh_4-1-h-2a

    • 4-1-h-2b

    • 4-1-h-2c

    • 4-1-h-2d

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    The mass spectra of three compounds A, B and C are shown below.

    4-1-h-3a

    4-1-h-3b

    4-1-h-3c

    Which of the following features of the three compounds A, B and C shows the molecular formula is C4H10O?

    • All show a molecular ion peak at 74

    • All show a molecular ion peak at 13

    • All show a molecular ion peak at 73

    • All show a molecular ion peak at 33

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    31 mark

    Chlorine exists as two isotopes 35Cl and 37Cl in the ratio 3:1.

    Which of the following statements about the molecular ion peaks in the mass spectrum of Cl2 is correct?

    • Peaks at m/e = 70 and 72 in the ratio 3:1

    • Peaks at m/e = 70, 72 and 74 in the ratio 9:3:1

    • Peaks at m/e = 70, 72 and 74 in the ratio 9:6:1

    • Peaks at m/e = 70 and 74 in the ratio 3:1

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    41 mark

    A compound XFn is a fluoride of another halogen, X, and it is known that n > 1. The highest mass peak in the spectrum of XFn is assigned to the parent ion and comes as single peak at m/e = 222. 

    Which of the following statements is incorrect?

    • n = 5

    • The compound could contain bromine

    • X and F are monotopic

    • The compound is a fluoride of iodine

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    51 mark

    In the mass spectrum of trifluoroacetic acid, CF3CO2H, intense peaks are observed at m/e = 69 and 45 (base peak) in addition to other peaks. 

    The peak at m/e = 69 is accompanied by a peak at m/e = 70, which is about 1.1% the intensity of the peak at m/e = 69. 

    Which of the following statements is not supported by this information?

    • C−C bond cleavage occurs

    • Fluorine is monotopic

    • [HO2C]+ is a fragment ion

    • CF3CO2H fragments by sequential loss of F atoms

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?

    61 mark

    A sample is analysed by mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. The following incomplete data is obtained.

    Mass spectrometry

    Infrared spectroscopy

    Molecular ion peak at m/e = 128

    Sharp peak at 1720 cm-1

    Fragment ion peak at m/e = 15

    No broad peak around 3200 cm-1

    Which of the following compounds is demonstrated by this data?

    Bond

    Wavenumber range / cm-1

    C−O; hydroxyl, ester

    1040 – 1300

    C═C; aromatic compound, alkene

    1500 - 1680

    C═O amide

    carbonyl, carboxyl

    ester

    1640 – 1690

    1670 – 1740 

    1710 - 1750

    C≡N; nitrile

    2200 – 2250

    C−H; alkane

    2850 – 2950

    N−H; amine, amide

    3300 – 3500

    O−H; carboxyl

    hydroxyl

    2500 – 3000

    3200 - 3600

    • 4-1-h-10a

    • 4-1-h-10b

    • 4-1-h-10c

    • 4-1-h-10d

    Choose your answer

    Did this page help you?