Scientific Journal Summary

Analysis of Proteins and Polymers

For our chemistry class, there was a scientific journal that talked about scientists analyzing organic molecules. There were two different types of organic samples that they were analyzing, and one of the organic samples included peptide, which are a certain type of protein molecule. Another organic sample included polymers, which are a bunch of monomers (sub-units) joined together, according to what I learned in biology. The scientists were participating in a field of science known as spectrometry, which is the study of ionic compounds and their properties and measurements. According to the journal, scientists tried to find the ions that have the highest measurements of mass through a process called ¨cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry". This type of process will allow us to find organic ions that have the highest mass measurement. In order to go through this process, they remove the electron from an atom through a laser made out of nitrogen. Eventually, the scientists will observe the data as to how long it takes for an ion to travel at a certain distance. This research is significant because a new form of technology was created, and it is more accurate than past inventions. It is important because this is the most accurate way of finding mass measurements of ions. Also, it turns out that there is another process that can make scientists have no trouble creating ions. This process is called "ultra fine metal plus liquid matrix method". Basically, this method acts as a catalyst for the ionization of an element. 

Laser is one of the main ingredients for the ionization of an organic sample in order to perform mass spectrometry.
Link: http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/pictures.cfm