Secondary electrospray ionization
Okay kiddo, so you know how there are tiny teeny tiny things called atoms that make up everything around us? Well, sometimes scientists want to study these atoms and see what they’re made of.
But there’s a problem, because these atoms are so small that it’s really hard to see them or understand what they’re made of. So, scientists use something called mass spectrometry to help them out.
And one way they can do mass spectrometry is by using something called secondary electrospray ionization (SESI).
Now, ionization just means taking something that’s not charged (neutral) and giving it a charge. And electrospray is a way of doing that by using electricity to create a spray of charged particles.
So, with SESI, scientists start by spraying a gas (like air) through a needle that has electricity running through it. This creates a tiny spray of charged gas particles, which can then interact with the atoms or molecules they want to study.
Next, the scientists put the sample they want to study (like a drop of blood) into the path of the charged gas particles. This causes the atoms or molecules in the sample to become charged too, which makes them easier to study.
Finally, the scientists use a mass spectrometer to analyze the charged particles that were created. This helps them figure out what the atoms or molecules in their sample are made of!
So, SESI is just a fancy way of using electricity and gas to help scientists study really really small things by making them easier to see and analyze. Cool, huh?
But there’s a problem, because these atoms are so small that it’s really hard to see them or understand what they’re made of. So, scientists use something called mass spectrometry to help them out.
And one way they can do mass spectrometry is by using something called secondary electrospray ionization (SESI).
Now, ionization just means taking something that’s not charged (neutral) and giving it a charge. And electrospray is a way of doing that by using electricity to create a spray of charged particles.
So, with SESI, scientists start by spraying a gas (like air) through a needle that has electricity running through it. This creates a tiny spray of charged gas particles, which can then interact with the atoms or molecules they want to study.
Next, the scientists put the sample they want to study (like a drop of blood) into the path of the charged gas particles. This causes the atoms or molecules in the sample to become charged too, which makes them easier to study.
Finally, the scientists use a mass spectrometer to analyze the charged particles that were created. This helps them figure out what the atoms or molecules in their sample are made of!
So, SESI is just a fancy way of using electricity and gas to help scientists study really really small things by making them easier to see and analyze. Cool, huh?