| Q: Mass spectrometry uses which of the following variables in order to separate molecules? |
| A | mass and density | |
| B | mass and hydrogen atoms | |
| C | mass and charge | |
| D | mass and light polarization |
The correct answer is C, mass and charge. Think back to chemistry, where mass spectra always had units of m/z, where m is mass and z is charge, normally in Daltons. Density is used by the centrifuge for separation, hydrogen atoms by NMR, and light polarization by some other kind of spectroscopy.