ICP-MS
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
ICP-MS stands for Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, a chemistry abbreviation.
Ultrasensitive technique that sprays a dissolved sample into an argon plasma hotter than 6,000 kelvins, converting elements into ions that a mass spectrometer counts. ICP-MS measures dozens of elements at once down to parts per trillion, making it the standard for trace metals in drinking water, food, semiconductors and rocks.
Example: Arsenic and lead in the rice samples were quantified by ICP-MS after microwave digestion.
Usage notes
Commercial instruments appeared in 1983. The related ICP-OES (optical emission spectroscopy) measures light emitted by the plasma instead; it is less sensitive but tolerates salty samples better. Isotope ratios measured by ICP-MS are also used in geochronology and in verifying the geographic origin of foods.
Related abbreviations
More chemistry abbreviations
- HCFC – Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- HCl – Hydrochloric acid
- HDPE – High-density polyethylene
- HFC – Hydrofluorocarbon
- HOMO – Highest occupied molecular orbital
- HPLC – High-performance liquid chromatography
- IPA – Isopropyl alcohol
- IR – Infrared spectroscopy
- IUPAC – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
- LC-MS – Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
- LD50 – Lethal dose, 50%
- LDPE – Low-density polyethylene