X-ray crystallography

X-ray crystallography (pronunciation: eks-rey kris-tl-og-ruh-fee) is a technique used for determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal. The underlying principle involves diffracting X-rays through the lattice of a crystal. This technique can reveal the positions of atoms, their chemical bonds, their disorder and various other information.

Etymology

The term "X-ray crystallography" is derived from the use of X-rays (discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen) and the geometric study of crystal structures, known as crystallography.

Process

The process of X-ray crystallography involves several steps. First, a suitable crystal is obtained. X-rays are then directed at the crystal, and the diffracted rays are detected and measured. The resulting data is then analyzed to determine the arrangement of atoms within the crystal.

Applications

X-ray crystallography has a wide range of applications. It is used in chemistry to determine the structure of complex organic molecules, in biology to study proteins and nucleic acids, and in material science to understand the properties of materials.

Related Terms

• Crystal
• X-ray
• Crystal structure
• Diffraction
• Atomic structure
• Molecular structure

See Also

• Protein crystallography
• Single crystal X-ray crystallography
• Powder X-ray diffraction

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on X-ray crystallography
• Wikipedia's article - X-ray crystallography

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