Nature of Metastable Peaks in Mass Spectra

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This paper discusses the possibilities of obtaining useful information from so‐called ``metastable lifetime'' measurements. An approximate method is described for computing the ratios of parent‐ion to metastable peak intensities via the statistical theory. The predictions of the statistical theory are compared with those of models employing a small number of discrete rate constants. It is shown that, in certain instances, it is possible to determine which model is correct by performing experiments as a function of ionizing voltage. Data for the 30.4 and 31.9 metastables of n‐butane, and the 56.1 metastable of benzonitrile appear to substantiate the validity of the statistical theory.