An apparatus for detecting chemical substances which is high in sensitivity and
selectivity is provided. An organic acid or an organic acid salt is used to generate
an organic acid gas from an organic acid gas generator to be mixed with a sample
gas for introduction into an ion source for ionization, thereby obtaining a mass
spectrum by a mass analysis region. A data processor determines the detection or
non-detection of a specific m/z of an organic acid adduct ion obtained by adding
a molecule generated from the organic acid to a molecule with specific m/z generated
from a target chemical substance to be detected based on the obtained mass spectrum.
When there is an ion peak with the m/z of the organic acid adduct ion, the presence
of the target chemical substance to be detected is determined, and an alarm is
sounded. False detection can be prevented.