X-ray diffraction has been a useful tool in understanding the structure of solids. The lattice of atoms in a crystal serves as a series of barriers and openings that diffracts X rays as they pass through. The diffracted X rays form an interference pattern that can be used to determine the spacing of atoms in the crystal. This precession photograph shows the pattern resulting from X rays passing through a palladium coordination complex, a compound with a palladium atom at the center of each molecule.
Dr. M. B. Hursthouse/Science Source/Photo Researchers, Inc.
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