X-ray crystallography

Technique used for determining crystal structures and identifying mineral compounds

X-ray crystallography is the experimental science of determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to diffract in specific directions. By measuring the angles and intensities of the X-ray diffraction, a crystallographer can produce a three-dimensional picture of the density of electrons within the crystal and the positions of the atoms, as well as their chemical bonds, crystallographic disorder, and other information. X-ray crystallography has been fundamental in the development of many scientific fields.

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