What is mass spectrometry primarily used for?

Mass spectrometry is primarily utilized for identifying and quantifying compounds within a sample. This technique works by ionizing chemical species and sorting the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratios. As a result, it provides detailed information about the molecular weight and structure of the compounds present, allowing chemists to analyze complex mixtures and gain insight into the composition of various substances.

The ability to quantify compounds comes from the instrument’s sensitivity and the creation of a mass spectrum, which can give relative abundance measurements for different ions detected. This quantitative aspect is essential in many fields, including environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals, and biochemistry, where understanding the concentration of specific compounds is vital.

Other options do not align with the primary functions of mass spectrometry. Measuring temperature is unrelated to the capabilities of this technique, as is determining the color of chemicals, which involves visual assessments or spectrophotometry. Analyzing electrical conductivity pertains to different physical properties and methodologies, making them unsuitable for this question.