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Mass Spectrometry as the Method Behind Isotopic Data

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Mass spectrometry measures isotopic abundance by ionizing a sample, deflecting the ions by mass and charge, and counting arrivals.

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A mass spectrum's peaks show which isotopes are present; each peak's height shows what fraction of the sample is that isotope.

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Abundance percentages used in mass calculations are not assumed — they come from measurements like these, not from a table alone.