The bromine mass spectrum peak at 160 has twice the intensity of 158 and 162 due to isotopic distribution.
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
1 source for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Reference data confirms that bromine consists of nearly equal proportions of 79Br and 81Br isotopes, producing a 1:2:1 isotopic distribution pattern for diatomic bromine with peaks at 158, 160, and 162.
A few of the isotopes commonly encountered in the analyses of organic compounds are below along with an example of how they can aid in peak identification. Relative Isotope Abundance of Common Elements
| Element | Isotope | Relative Abundance | Isotope | Relative Abundance | Isotope | Relative Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 12C | 100 | 13C | 1.11 | | |
| Hydrogen | 1H | 100 | 2H | 0.016 | | |
| Nitrogen | 14N | 100 | 15N | 0.38 | | |
| Oxygen | 16O | 100 | 17O | 0.04 | 18O | 0.20 |
| Sulfur | 32S | 100 | 33S | 0.78 | 34S | 4.40 |
| Chlorine | 35Cl | 100 | | | 37Cl | 32.5 |
| Bromine | 79Br | 100 | | | 81Br | 98.0 |
Methyl Bromide: An example of how isotopes can aid in peak identification. | | |
The ratio of peaks containing 79Br and its isotope 81Br (100/98) confirms the presence of bromine in the compound. Other Methods
An array of ionization methods and mass analyzers are available to meet the needs of many types of chemical analysis. A few are listed here with a highlight of their usefulness.