Brimstone chemistry under laser light assists mass spectrometric detection and imaging the distribution of arsenic in minerals

摘要: Singly charged As2n+1 ion clusters (n = 2–11) were generated from elemental arsenic by negative-ion laser-ablation mass spectrometry. The overall abundance of the gaseous As ions upon laser irradiation was enhanced nearly a hundred times when As-bearing samples admixed with sulfur. However, sulfur does not act purely as an inert matrix: irradiating arsenic-sulfur mixtures revealed novel pathway to generate and detect series [AsSn]− 2–6). Intriguingly, spectra recorded As2O3, NaAsO2, Na3AsO4, cacodylic acid 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic together matrix remarkably similar that acquired mixture. This result indicated sulfide cluster-ions are directly compounds hitherto unknown pathway. mechanism extracting chemically bound forming is enigmatic; however, this discovery has practical value general detection method for compounds. For example, employed in its minerals, imaging distribution minerals such domeykite. LDI-MS data latent image imprinted on piece paper flat mineral surface, wetting solution sulfur, enabled localization mineral. visualized false-color images relative intensities m/z 139 (AsS2−) 171 (AsS3−) ions.