I have limited experience with lc/ms analysis and was wondering if someone could tell me exactly what distinguishes lc/ms from hplc (i.e., if you know how to use lc/ms is it would it be hard to use hplc.)
Any help is much appreciated. I've found literature on both, obviously, but can't quite pinpoint it.

LC/MS uses a mass spec as the detector, HPLC uses any other detector.

In LC/MS the chromatographic separation is achieved with an HPLC; analytes separated are detected by a mass spectrometer.
For connecting HPLC effluent and mass spectrometer the most used interface is Atmospheric Pressure Interface (API) which is implemented in two fundamental type:
- electrospay ionisation ESI
- atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation APCI
ESI work with an high potential applied at point of nebulisation and, generally, is well suited for molecules easily ionisable in solution while APCI work with chemical ionisation through a corona discharge and is more useful with molecules not redily ionisable.
Both ESI and APCI are soft ionisation methods that produce predominantly pseudomolecular ions (M+H)+ or (M-H)-.
Detection of ions is achieved with following type of spectrometers:
- single quadrupole (MS)
- triple quadrupole (MS-MS)
- ion trap (MS-MS)
and other type of analysers.
Mass spectrometric detection allow you to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis and when using single ion detection is very selective and sensitive.
Note that when you using single quadrupole and analyse a mixture or a real sample, chromatographic separations is very crucial for correct identification of analyte.
MS-MS technique offer several advantages for identification and structural information on analyte even when chromatographic separation is not optimal.
I hope this note is useful for you.
Sorry for my english.
Regards

Thank you, this was very helpful.