AssayIndex
Mass spectrometry

Resolving power

A mass spectrometer's ability to separate two close masses, expressed as m/Δm. A quadrupole gives ~1,000; a TOF 20,000–50,000.

Related terms

High-resolution mass spectrometry
Sufficient resolving power to distinguish species differing by a small fraction of a dalton. Required to exclude 1 and 2 Da alternatives.
Unit resolution
Resolving power sufficient to separate masses one dalton apart but not to determine exact mass. Cannot exclude a +1 or +2 Da alternative species.

Where this term appears

The glossary exists to make record pages readable without a chemistry degree. Every technical term on a report resolves here.