Question

How do you read mass spectroscopy graphs?

Answer 1

Basically, it is just a relative amount of each mass fragment. Putting them together into likely molecules is done with a little math.

Explanation:

1. A small sample is ionized, usually to cations by loss of an electron.
2. The ions are sorted and separated according to their mass and charge.
3. The separated ions are then measured, and the results displayed on a chart.
   Overview and online calculator:
   http://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/VirtTxtJml/Spectrpy/MassSpec/masspec1.htm

Simple tutorial:
http://cbc.arizona.edu/massspec/inter_html/inter.html