Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is a combination of two instrumental techniques, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The gas chromatograph is used to separate a mixture into component parts and delivers them to the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer breaks the molecules into ions and records the resulting spectrum. This spectrum conclusively identifies the compound. GC/MS is used in the analysis of fire debris, explosives, paint, tape and substance identification.