Summary

This book, co-authored by William Lawrence Bragg and his father W.H. Bragg, presents the foundational method of using X-ray diffraction to determine the atomic structure of crystals. Its central thesis is that the regular arrangement of atoms in a crystal can be deduced from the pattern of X-rays scattered by the crystal, as described by Bragg’s law. The book details the experimental setup, the derivation of the law, and its application to simple crystals like sodium chloride and diamond. It also explains how the resulting diffraction patterns reveal interatomic distances and lattice symmetries. A reader takes away a clear, step-by-step understanding of how X-ray crystallography works as a tool for probing matter at the atomic scale, including the practical challenges of measurement and interpretation.

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Key concepts

Bragg’s law — The equation nλ = 2d sinθ, which relates the wavelength of X-rays (λ), the spacing between crystal planes (d), and the angle of incidence (θ) for constructive interference.
Crystal lattice — The regular, repeating three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in a solid, defined by unit cells.
X-ray diffraction — The scattering of X-rays by the electron clouds of atoms in a crystal, producing a pattern of spots that encodes structural information.
Sodium chloride structure — The first crystal structure solved by the Braggs, showing alternating sodium and chloride ions in a face-centered cubic lattice.
Atomic spacing — The distance between adjacent atoms in a crystal, typically on the order of angstroms (10⁻¹⁰ m), measurable via diffraction angles.