mass spectrograph: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

In modern casual technical use, they are often used interchangeably. However, strictly, a 'mass spectrograph' uses a photographic plate to record the mass spectrum, while a 'mass spectrometer' uses electronic detection methods. 'Mass spectrograph' often refers to the historical instrument.

The first working mass spectrograph was built by British physicist Francis Aston in 1919 at the University of Cambridge, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1922.

It allowed for the precise measurement of atomic masses and led directly to the discovery of isotopes (atoms of the same element with different masses), revolutionizing the understanding of atomic structure and the periodic table.

The original photographic plate instruments are largely obsolete for routine analysis, replaced by electronic mass spectrometers. However, the term is still used in historical contexts and the fundamental principle remains the cornerstone of all mass spectrometry.

An instrument that measures the masses and relative abundances of atoms and molecules by separating gaseous ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio, recording the results on a photographic plate.

Mass spectrograph is usually formal, technical, academic in register.

Mass spectrograph: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmæs ˈspek.trə.ɡrɑːf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæs ˈspek.trə.ɡræf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.