During the acceleration step in mass spectroscopy, ions are...

In mass spectroscopy, the acceleration step is crucial for analyzing ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. During this step, ions are accelerated through an electric field, gaining kinetic energy that allows them to travel faster. The electric field is created by applying a potential difference between two electrodes, pushing the ions from a region of lower potential to a region of higher potential. This acceleration process is essential as it increases the speed of the ions, which is necessary for them to enter the subsequent components of the mass spectrometer, like the drift area or the analyzer.

The ions' increased velocity is what enables the mass spectrometer to reliably separate them based on their mass-to-charge ratios when they later enter a magnetic or electric field for further analysis. Achieving this separation is critical for obtaining accurate mass measurements and identifying different molecules. In summary, the correct explanation of the acceleration step is that the ions are accelerated through an electric field, enhancing their kinetic energy for further analysis in the mass spectrometer.