The internal energy of product ions formed in mass spectral reactions

Major factors which determine the distribution of internal energy of a primary product ion A⁺, P(E)_A+, at formation are delineated in terms of the quasi‐equilibrium theory and a variety of experimental evidence is offered to support these conclusions. These major factors include: the P(E) of the molecular ion, the rate constants as a function of energy, κ(E), for M⁺·→A⁺ + N⁰ and for competing reactions of M⁺·, and the partitioning of excess internal energy between A⁺ and N⁰. The ‘fluctuation effect’ on this partitioning makes P(E)_A+ relatively insensitive to many structural and energy changes.