Organic mass spectrometry at the beginning of the 21st century

Mass spectrometry in the last 15–20 years has become one of the first methods of the qualitative analysis and quantitative determination of various substances, from isotopes of chemical elements to synthetic polymers, proteins, and nucleic acids. This method allows analysts to work with both individual compounds and most complex mixtures that contain hundreds and thousands of compounds. It is the best in terms of the sensitivity, information content, and rapidity. This review covers the present-day achievements of mass spectrometry, including ionization and ion separation methods and different versions of its application in various fields of science and human activity.