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X-Ray Diffraction and the Bragg Equation

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Christopher G. Pope

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (1), p 129

DOI: 10.1021/ed074p129

Publication Date (Web): January 1, 1997

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Typical derivations of the Bragg equation in introductory texts do not adequately explain why x-rays are reflected as if by a mirror by crystal planes, and often lead to the mistaken idea that lattice points can be identified with the centres of atoms or ions in the structure. The treatment offered here is a little more demanding, but to compensate for this also has the advantage that it can easily be extended to provide a basic understanding of the use of XRD in structure determination. Comparison of the x-ray powder diffraction patterns obtained from K Cl and K Br is used to illustrate how both the angles and the intensities of diffracted beams are determined by the structure of a solid. A brief discussion of the effects of crystal size on the broadening of diffraction lines is included both for its intrinsic interest, and because it emphasizes that the sharp diffracted beams which are often observed result from the cooperative effect of very large numbers of scattering centers.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Inorganic Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

X-ray Crystallography

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

Ordered Mesoporous Carbons Enriched with Nitrogen: Application to Hydrogen Storage
Sylvain Giraudet, Zhonghua Zhu, Xiangdong Yao and Gaoqing Lu
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C2010 114 (18), 8639-8645
- Ordered Mesoporous Carbons Enriched with Nitrogen: Application to Hydrogen Storage
  Sylvain Giraudet, Zhonghua Zhu, Xiangdong Yao and Gaoqing Lu
  The Journal of Physical Chemistry C2010 114 (18), 8639-8645
  Nitrogen functional groups were incorporated in ordered mesoporous carbons, and their influence on hydrogen storage was investigated. Two experimental methods were used to dope nitrogen atoms onto and/or into the organic adsorbent. First, a surface ...
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