In this thesis Matthew Simpson reportstwo areas of work in gas ion spectroscopy, each investigation in itself worthy of a PhD. The first study uses tunable vacuum-ultraviolet radiation from a synchrotron to identify negative ions from twenty four photoexcited polyatomic molecules in the gas phase. From these experiments, Matthew collects a vast amount of data and summarises and reviews ion-pair formation from polyatomic molecules. The second study is on selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Matthew investigates the reactions of cations and anions with ethene, monofluoroethene, 1,1-difluoroethene and tetrafluoroethene. In this study Matthew tries to explain why certain products are formed preferentially over other products at a microscopic level of understanding. The data recorded in this thesis form the most comprehensive collection of information about anion formation and are the basis of a review and numerous articles in specialist journals.