What is mass spectroscopy used to determine?

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique primarily used for determining the molecular weight of compounds, which correlates directly to their molecular formula. When a sample is ionized, mass spectrometry measures the mass-to-charge ratio of its ions. The resulting data allows for the identification of the molecular weight, from which the molecular formula can often be derived, especially when additional fragmentation patterns are analyzed.

Determining molecular weight is crucial because knowing the molecular weight of a compound aids in characterizing it and can assist in identifying its molecular formula when combined with other information, such as elemental composition or isotopic ratios. This capability makes mass spectrometry an essential tool in fields such as proteomics, metabolomics, and pharmaceutical research, where understanding the molecular composition is vital for scientific inquiry and application.

While mass spectrometry can also provide insights into various aspects of compounds, such as structural information and, indirectly, concentration under certain conditions, its primary strength lies in analyzing molecular weights and formulas. Therefore, the core function of mass spectrometry in the context of this question aligns more closely with determining the molecular formula of compounds rather than other aspects like concentration or light scattering properties.