In mass spectroscopy, which ions will deflect most in a magnetic field?

In mass spectroscopy, the deflection of ions in a magnetic field is influenced by two main factors: the charge of the ion and the mass of the ion. When ions enter a magnetic field, they experience a force that is proportional to their charge and inversely proportional to their mass.

Ions with a lower mass will deflect more in a magnetic field because they experience a greater acceleration due to the Lorentz force, which acts on charged particles in a magnetic field. This force is given by the equation ( F = qvB ), where ( q ) is the charge, ( v ) is the velocity of the ion, and ( B ) is the magnetic field strength. With a lower mass, for the same amount of charge and field strength, the ion will have a greater trajectory deviation because it can move more easily in response to the force applied by the magnetic field.

In contrast, ions with greater mass will experience less deflection since their inertia makes them more resistant to changes in motion, even when the charge may be the same. Non-charged particles do not experience any electromagnetic force in a magnetic field, so they do not deflect at all. This establishes why ions with lower mass will indeed deflect the