Standard definitions of terms relating to mass spectrometry

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Standard definitions of terms relating to mass spectrometry is a project of the IUPAC Analytical Chemistry Division [1].

Contents 1 Chairman 2 Goal 3 Result 4 Example 5 Conclusion

[edit] Chairman

The Task Group Chairman is Kermit K. Murray.

[edit] Goal

The goal of the Project is described as:

Widely accepted standard definitions of terms are necessary for clear communication in the discussion and dissemination of results. This is particularly important for multidisciplinary fields such as mass spectrometry.

[edit] Result

Unfortunately the task group followed a faulty strategy: instead of reviewing the international conventions concerning metrology as described in the IUPAC green book and ISO 31, they relied too heavily on the old IUPAC gold book [2] as well as on outdated definitions found in literature. Therefore, unfortunately, the resulting document [3] is partly incompatible with the international conventions concerning metrology as described in the IUPAC green book and ISO 31. Thereby the task group defied its goal and hindered communication in a multidisciplinary field.

[edit] Example

m/z is defined as a dimensionless quantity whereas mass spectrometers measure mass-to-charge ratios, which is of dimension mass per charge. This confuses many mass spec users which think m/z is a symbol for the physiscal quantity mass-to-charge ratio.

[edit] Conclusion

Better knowledge in metrology, better knowledge of the IUPAC green book would have helped the project.