(a) For molecules having small molecular masses, mass spectrometry can be used to identify their formulas. To illustrate this point, identify the molecule which most likely accounts for the observation of a peak in a mass spectrum at: 16 amu, 17 amu, 18 amu, and 64 amu.
(b) Note that there are (among others) two likely molecules that would give rise to a peak at 44 amu, namely, C3H8 and CO2. In such cases, a chemist might try to look for other peaks generated when some of the molecules break apart in the spectrometer. For example, if a chemist sees a peak at 44 amu and also one at 15 amu, which molecule is producing the 44-amu peak? Why?
(c) Using the following precise atomic masses: 1 H (1.00797 amu), 12 C (12.00000 amu), and 16O (15.99491 amu), how precisely must the masses of C3H8 and CO2 be measured to distinguish between them?