Parent peak

Definition

In mass spectrometry, the parent peak represents the highest mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) peak in a spectrum, corresponding to the unfragmented molecule. This peak helps in determining the molecular weight of the sample being analyzed.

Related terms

Mass: to-charge ratio (m/z) - The ratio of an ion's mass to its charge, crucial for identifying ions in mass spectrometry.

Fragmentation: The process by which a chemical compound breaks into smaller components or fragments when subjected to energy in mass spectrometry.

Molecular Ion: An ion formed by the removal or addition of an electron to a molecule, usually represented by the parent peak in a mass spectrum