Charge-exchange chemical ionization mass spectrometry (using a 15% mixture of methane in argon) yields abundant M/sup +/, M + H/sup +/, M + C/sub 2/H/sub 5//sup +/ ions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). On the basis of the relative intensities of the M + H/sup +/ ion to the M/sup +/ ion, this technique can differentiate, in a predictable manner, isomeric structures of PAH. The operating conditions were evaluated and optimized; the most significant contributions to the variations in the (M + H)/sup +//M/sup +/ ratios are the temperature, pressure, and condition of the ion source. The optimum ion source temperature (250/sup 0/C) and pressure (0.8 torr) are easily controlled and regulated. The variable contamination of the ion source is compensated by an internal standard 1,2,3,5-tetrafluorobenzene. The analyses of Standard Reference Materials 1648 and 1649 (air particulate samples) and a carbon black extract are reported. Triphenylene and chrysene, although not chromatographically resolved, can be quantitated by using this technique. The identification of acephenanthrylene based on the measurement of ratios and calculated ionization potentials is also presented.