10 questions · 7 almanac · 0 findings

Crystallography

The study of crystal structure and its determination.

Almanac A Father, a Son, and a Key
  • How did Lawrence Bragg's equation connect the angle of X-ray diffraction to the spacing between atomic planes in a crystal?
  • What did the Braggs' method reveal about the atomic arrangement of sodium chloride and diamond?
Almanac A Napkin Equation That Made Atoms Legible
  • Why do X-rays reflected from successive crystal planes reinforce each other only at specific angles?
  • How does running Bragg's law in reverse let scientists reconstruct a crystal's internal atomic geometry?
Almanac There Is No Such Creature — Except There Was
  • What is fivefold rotational symmetry, and why was it thought impossible in crystals?
  • How did the scientific community react to Shechtman's discovery, and how long did it take to accept?