An electrically charged molecular
moiety which may dissociate to form fragments, one or more of which may be electrically
charged, and one or more neutral species. A parent ion may be a molecular ion or an
electrically charged fragment of a molecular ion.
Source:
PAC, 1991, 63, 1541
(Recommendations for nomenclature and symbolism for mass spectroscopy (including an
appendix of terms used in vacuum technology). (Recommendations 1991))
on page 1549