Which of the following is the first step in mass spectroscopy?

In mass spectroscopy, the first step is ionization. This process involves converting the sample into ions, which is essential for subsequent analysis in the mass spectrometer. During ionization, molecules are energized and stripped of electrons, resulting in positively or negatively charged ions. Without this step, the sample cannot be analyzed because mass spectrometry relies on the movement and behavior of ions under electric or magnetic fields to determine their mass-to-charge ratios.

After ionization, the generated ions can then be accelerated and deflected, leading to detection and analysis based on their mass. Therefore, ionization is critical as it sets the foundation for the entire mass spectrometry process, allowing for the characterization of the sample being analyzed.