How does x-ray diffraction work?
X-ray diffraction is an analytical technique which uses a beam of x-rays to probe repeating planes of atoms. The reflection of x-rays off of repeating planes of atoms creates a series of spots called a diffraction pattern. The orientation of the x-ray and the crystal is of utmost importance. As the angle between the x-ray beam and the crystal face is varied, the diffraction pattern will change as well. By collecting data from a series of orientation angles, the three dimensional atomic structure can be calculated. You can think of this in simpler terms. Say you wanted to document a sculpture for a museum. A single photograph of the sculpture would record only a fraction of its overall form. Instead, you could take a series of photographs from several angles to flush out the entire sculpture. From your collection of photographs someone who had never seen the actual sculpture could build a replica. The sample used in x-ray diffraction must not only be crystalline, but it must also be a s
