Chemistry
Principles of Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Patterns for Structural Elucidation
Quick fact
A common fragmentation known as the McLafferty rearrangement allows a molecule to lose a stable neutral fragment like an alkene, producing a radical cation after a intramolecular hydrogen transfer—this predictable shift helps identify the original structure.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered how chemists can 'see' the structure of a molecule just by smashing it into pieces? In mass spectrometry, the shattering of molecules is not random chaos—it's a pattern that reveals the blueprints of the molecule.