The type of electromagnetic radiation that is employed when crystals are used as diffraction gratings is
A)infrared
B)Xrays
C)visible
D)ultraviolet
E)microwaves

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crystals are often used as diffraction gratings for X-ray crystallography, which uses X-rays to determine the three-dimensional structures of molecules. X-rays have short wavelengths (on the order of angstroms) that allow them to interact with the regular arrangement of atoms in a crystal lattice, producing a diffraction pattern that can be analyzed to determine the structure of the molecule. Other forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light or microwaves, would not have wavelengths small enough to interact with the crystal lattice in the same way as X-rays.

The Type of Electromagnetic Radiation That Is Employed When Crystals