X-ray diffraction
X-ray Diffraction
X-ray diffraction (pronunciation: eks-rey dih-frak-shuhn) is a scientific technique used to study the structure of materials at the atomic or molecular level. It involves the scattering of X-rays by the atoms in the material and the subsequent analysis of the diffraction pattern produced.
Etymology
The term "X-ray diffraction" is derived from the words "X-ray", named so by its discoverer Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen due to its unknown nature, and "diffraction", which comes from the Latin diffringere, meaning "to break into pieces". This refers to the way the X-rays are scattered or "broken up" by the atoms in the material.
Process
The process of X-ray diffraction involves directing a beam of X-rays at a material and then measuring the angles and intensities of the diffracted rays. This information can be used to determine the crystal structure of the material, including the positions of the atoms and the distances between them.
Applications
X-ray diffraction has a wide range of applications in various fields such as material science, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is commonly used to identify unknown materials, determine the crystal structures of new compounds, study the properties of materials under different conditions, and investigate the defects and imperfections in crystals.
Related Terms
- Bragg's Law: A fundamental equation in X-ray diffraction that relates the angles at which the X-rays are diffracted to the distances between the atomic planes in the crystal.
- Crystallography: The scientific study of crystals and their structure, which often involves the use of X-ray diffraction.
- Fourier Transform: A mathematical technique used in the analysis of X-ray diffraction data to convert the diffraction pattern into a real-space image of the atomic or molecular structure.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on X-ray diffraction
- Wikipedia's article - X-ray diffraction
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