Chapter 2, Problem 40E

Mass spectrometry is more often applied to molecules than to atoms. We will see in Chapter
3 D that the molecular weight of a molecule is the sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in the
molecule. The mass spectrum of H2 is taken under conditions that prevent decomposition into H
atoms. The two naturally occurring isotopes of hydrogen are 1H
(atomic mass = 1.00783 amu; abundance 99.9885 %) and
2H (atomic mass = 2.01410 amu; abundance 0.0115 95).

a. How many peaks will the mass spectrum have?

b. Give the relative atomic masses of each of these peaks.

c. Which peak will be the largest, and which the smallest?