X-ray crystallography, protons or electrons?

In summary, X-ray crystallography is a century-old technique used to determine the structure of crystals. In this conversation, the question is raised whether the diffraction in this process is caused by the nucleons or the electrons in the sample. It is clarified that the electrons play a major role in scattering X-rays, despite their varying positions within the sample. This information may come as a surprise to some, and more can be found on this topic in the provided Wikipedia link.
  • #1
zincshow
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X-ray crystallography is now 100 years old so this question is probably pretty simple. Is the diffraction coming from the nucleons or the electrons in the sample? Ie. The electrons occupy a more diverse location within the sample (depending on what level/shell they occupy, in fact some may be floating around as free electrons within the sample) so I assume that x-rays are being diffracted by the nucleons and are not affected by the position of the electrons. Is this correct?
 
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  • #2

Related to X-ray crystallography, protons or electrons?

1. What is X-ray crystallography?

X-ray crystallography is a scientific technique used to determine the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal through the scattering of X-rays off its atoms.

2. How does X-ray crystallography work?

X-ray crystallography works by passing a beam of X-rays through a crystal and measuring the diffraction pattern of the scattered X-rays. This pattern can then be used to calculate the positions of the atoms within the crystal.

3. What are the applications of X-ray crystallography?

X-ray crystallography has many applications in various fields of science, including structural biology, materials science, and drug discovery. It is used to determine the structures of proteins, DNA, and other biomolecules, as well as crystals used in electronics and pharmaceuticals.

4. What is the difference between protons and electrons?

Protons and electrons are subatomic particles with different properties. Protons have a positive charge and are located in the nucleus of an atom, while electrons have a negative charge and orbit around the nucleus. Protons are much larger in mass compared to electrons and are responsible for the overall charge of an atom.

5. How are protons and electrons used in scientific research?

Protons and electrons are used in various scientific research techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron microscopy. NMR uses the properties of protons to determine the structure and dynamics of molecules, while electron microscopy uses electrons to create high-resolution images of structures at the atomic level.

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