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    Chemistry A-Level

    molecular ion peak

    What molecular ion peak means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.

    Definitions of molecular ion peak

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    Reference: AQA

    The peak at the highest mass to charge ratio, ignoring small isotope peaks beyond it, which gives the relative molecular mass directly.
    AQA · Mass spectrometry (study guide)
    The peak at the highest mass-to-charge value that is not an isotope satellite, formed when the whole molecule loses a single electron.
    AQA · Mass number and isotopes (study guide)
    A small peak at the highest m/z value in the spectrum, whose m/z value equals the relative molecular mass of the compound.
    OCR · Analytical techniques
    The peak of the radical cation formed when the molecule loses one electron, giving the relative molecular mass.
    OCR · Analytical techniques
    The peak that gives the relative molecular mass of a separated component.
    AQA · Chromatography (A-level only) (study guide)

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