GC-MS
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
GC-MS stands for Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a chemistry abbreviation.
Combination of a gas chromatograph, which separates a mixture, with a mass spectrometer, which identifies each separated compound by its fragmentation pattern. GC-MS is a workhorse of forensic toxicology, drug testing, environmental monitoring and fire-debris analysis because spectra can be matched against large reference libraries.
Example: The seized powder was confirmed as cocaine by GC-MS comparison with a certified reference standard.
Usage notes
Often written GC/MS. Electron ionization at 70 electronvolts produces reproducible fragments, which is why searching libraries such as the NIST mass spectral database works so well. In sports and workplace drug testing, an initial immunoassay screen is commonly confirmed by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS, which courts accept as definitive.
Related abbreviations
More chemistry abbreviations
- Et – Ethyl group
- EtOAc – Ethyl acetate
- ETOH – Ethanol (alcohol)
- EVA – Ethylene-vinyl acetate
- FTIR – Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
- GC – Gas chromatography
- GHS – Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of…
- H2O – Water
- H2O2 – Hydrogen peroxide
- H2SO4 – Sulfuric acid
- HCFC – Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- HCl – Hydrochloric acid