Talk:Monoisotopic mass

From Mass Spec Terms

The Definition should be "The mass of an ion or molecule calculated using the mass of the lightest isotope of each element."

Only using the lightest isotopes will result in the really "monoisotopic" mass. The former Definition is valid only for the most common elements like C, H, N, O, S... (where the lightest also is the most abundant isotope). The former definition fails for B, Fe and many other elements. The disadvantage of this change is, that the resulting mass might be of very small abundance allthough it is exactly what the term "monoisotopic mass" means.

-- Mletzel

Lightest or Most Abundant

Mass Spec Desk Reference says most abundant. So does Dass.

-- K. Murray 16:13, 25 May 2005 (CDT)