Intended for students and professionals as well as novices from other fields to mass spectrometry. Starting from the very principles of gas-phase ion chemistry and isotopic properties, this guide leads through the design of mass analyzers and ionization methods in use to mass spectral interpretation and coupling techniques.

Introduction.- Gas Phase Ion Chemistry.- Isotopes.- Instrumentation.- Electron Ionization.- Fragmentation of Organic Ions and Interpretation of EI Mass Spectra.- Chemical Ionization.- Field Ionization and Field Desorption.- Fast Atom Bombardment.- Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization.- Electrospray Ionization.- Hyphenated Methods.- Appendices: Isotopic Composition of the Elements.- Characteristic Ions.

From the reviews: Choice Review by J. Allison, College of New Jersey "With dozens of works available in the ever-expanding field of mass spectrometry, the ideal work still seems, as Gross (Univ. of Heidelberg) states, to be missing. Gross does an excellent job of constructing a book that is surprisingly comprehensive, scientifically accurate, and is packed with figures, photos, and examples. All of the standard topics are covered, including common ionization methods, instrumentation, ion chemistry, and "hot" methods. The writing is very informal, which may make it more accessible to readers new to the field. At times, figures are not adequately explained, and sections that need to be included for completeness are short; however, there are few options when trying to present so much in a single volume. Gross does this well. The book is well written and packed with useful citations and information. Photos of equipment are very instructive and useful. Teachers of mass spectrometry will find this to be a pleasant surprise, and a top contender as the resource for a course in this field. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduates through professionals." "It represents a long-awaited update in the literature on general mass spectrometry ! . is very well referenced and ! clearly set out ! . provides a most valuable reference for the professional mass spectrometrist and for users at all levels. ! ideal text for new graduates, setting out on a career in mass spectrometry, and provides a well-rounded and comprehensive overview of the field. ! will undoubtedly take its place among classical mass spectrometry texts." (Peter Cullis, Chemistry in Australia, June, 2005) "No single author has attempted to compile such a comprehensive treatise. ! Each chapter offers a detailed discussion with many illustrations facilitating understanding. ! The book is admirably free from errors ! . highly informative and up-to-date covering all aspects of organic mass spectrometry. It can be used both as a reference book and as a guide for those persons who want more than a superficial knowledge of this important field." (Herbert Budzikiewicz, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Vol. 381, 2005) "Starting from first principles this textbook takes the reader through the design of mass analysers and ionisation methods al the way to mass spectral interpretation and coupling techniques. ! This is an ideal textbook for students and professionals as well as newcomers to the field of mass spectrometry. It provides a balanced mixture of practical and theoretical background, featuring a clear layout and a wealth of high-quality figures, and an extensive reference list at the end of each chapter." (Stephen Mee, Materials World Inc., Vol. 13(5), 2005) "It is a very thorough book which looks at all aspects of the subject ! . It is generously illustrated with figures, schemes, spectra, tables and graphs. Every term is defined as it arises ! equations are derived and experimental data plotted. It is fully referenced to original literature, and has a good index." (E. D. Morgan, Chromatographia, Vol. 61(5-6), 2005) "An up-to-date text-book on mass spectrometry that not only contains a thorough treatment of the various aspects and methods of this technique, but also provides a comprehensive coverage of the relevant literature. It is an excellent work ! . From the conception of the book and its detailed contents it is clear that the author has a deep understanding of this field. ! can be recommended unreservedly as a textbook and reference source for chemists, especially organic chemists." (Manfred Hesse, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 43(35), 2004) "It is amazing, how much detailed information he is able to pack into compact chapters without oversimplifying or loosing precision or clarity. ! excellently illustrated with a large number of straight-to-the-point graphics ... . definitively is worth reading for a broad readership ! . I will certainly recommend it to my own coworkers. ! one of the best textbook on mass spectrometry I have seen so far. It may serve excellently as a basis for teaching lecture courses on mass spectrometry." (Christoph A. Schalley, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 235, 2004) "The book entitled 'Mass Spectrometry -- A Textbook' provides an overview of the principles and technology that define mass spectrometry (MS). ! The book is comprised of twelve, well written chapters with easy-to-follow diagrams, figures and appendices. ! Cross-disciplinary students or researchers at the biology-chemistry interface would find this book rewarding ! ." (Aine Behan, Proteomics, Vol. 5 (17), 2005)