In the mass spectrum of 2-methylbutane, the most abundant peak (base peak) typically corresponds to the fragment ion with the highest intensity. 2-methylbutane (also known as iso-pentane) has a molecular formula of C6H14, and its base peak is often seen at m/z 43.
The base peak at m/z 43 corresponds to the fragment ion produced by the cleavage of the C-C bond adjacent to a tertiary carbon atom in the molecule. This fragmentation leads to the formation of a stable tertiary carbocation, which is a common pattern in mass spectra of alkane compounds.