Mass Spectrometry

Code:

Q4072

Acronym:

Q4072

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Advanced Methods and Accreditation in Chemical Analysis

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:MA3Q	8	Official study plan since 2025/2026	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The course aims at providing a broad and in-depth knowledge of modern mass spectrometric analysis methodologies. Coupling of separation techniques, as well as qualitative and quantitative data analysis included. The different mass spectrometric techniques are compared in detail and evaluated for different applications and analytical problems.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Mass spectrometry is accomplished in modern instruments with some complexity. Its effective use requires a sound knowledge of the principles of operation, which involves the understanding of phenomena and techniques associated with the ionization, fragmentation and spectral scanning. To this end, the syllabus embodies all the support concepts and basic phenomena for understanding the current techniques of ionization, mass detection, analysis and data processing.

On a practical level, given the paramount importance that the use of mass spectrometry associated with the chromatographic separation assumes, the practice of actual use of instrumentation to data acquisition will be held with chromatographic coupling, one of the topics of the programme. The last topic, MS/MS, assumes a great importance, in particular in situations of complex analysis. The ability to suggest the appropriate mass spectrometry methods for unusual or special applications, will thus derive essentially from these last topics.

Learning outcomes - After completing the course the student will:

1. acquire the principles of common mass spectrometric instruments.


2. be able to account for common ionization and separation techniques, as weel as fragmentation modes;


3. acquire practical skills from real instrumentation, as well as to evaluate, quantitative and spectral data;


4. be able to suggest suitable mass spectrometric methods for ordinary or particular applications.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction.


2. Ionization techniques - electron ionization, chemical ionization, field ionization and desorption, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), electrospray ionization (ESI).


3. Gas phase ion and molecule chemistry. Basic rules of formation and fragmentation of ions.


4. Mass analysers - quadropole, ion trap, time-of-flight (TOF), Fourier tranform (ion cyclotron resonance and orbitrap).


5. Detectors. Data handling.


6. Tandem mass spectrometry.


7. Mass spectrometry/chromatography coupling.

Mandatory literature

Hoffmann Edmond de; Mass spectrometry. ISBN: 9780470033111
Hiraoka, K. ; Fundamentals of Mass Spectrometry, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-4614-7233-9
Gross, J. H. ; Mass Spectrometry: A Textbook. , Springer, 2011. ISBN: 978-3-642-10711-5

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course provides theoretical and practical skills. Whilst dialectic between these two aspects is intended, the eminently theoretical part is played in the classroom, in a theoretical-practical approach involving discussion, problem-solving and information research.

The practical aspect will be essentially developed in the laboratory, allowing, in a first phase, a familiarization with interpretation of mass spectra and different instrumentation of mass spectrometers. In a second phase, laboratory work is carried out, allowing the application of concepts seized to data acquisition and its interpretation, with the purpose of instrumental performance test or quantification.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Instrumental analysis
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Analytical chemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Exame	60,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	16,00
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	16,00
Estudo autónomo	98,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Trabalho laboratorial	11,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Students who miss more than 25% of the expected number of theoretical-practical (TP) and practical laboratory classes (PL) will lose their attendance at this UC.

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment will be distributed, taking into account the components of practical work with report (25%) , presentation/discussion of scientific article (15%) and final written examination (60%). Approval is conditioned to a minimum mark of 9.5 (out of 20) in the final written examination.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The special assessment will be distributed, taking into account the components of practical work with report (25%) , presentation/discussion of scientific article (15%) and final written examination (60%). Approval is conditioned to a minimum mark of 9.5 (out of 20) in the written examination.

Classification improvement

The student may require to improve the component of final written examination.