Fundamentals of Benchtop GC–MS Data Analysis and Terminology

Small quadrupole mass spectrometers have made benchtop gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) one of the most powerful tools in analytical chemistry. Combining the unparalleled separation power of gas chromatography with the detection and identification capabilities of mass spectrometry, benchtop GC–MS provides both universal and selective separation and detection in a single system. In this installment, we will review the fundamental terminology and data analysis principles in benchtop GC–MS. We will compare the three modes of analysis—full scan, extracted ion chromatograms, and selected ion monitoring—and see how each is used for quantitative and quantitative analysis.