X-ray crystallography, protons or electrons?

AI Thread Summary
X-ray crystallography primarily involves the diffraction of X-ray waves by the electrons surrounding atoms, not the nucleons. The electrons' diverse positions, influenced by their energy levels and potential free states, play a crucial role in scattering X-rays. This understanding challenges the assumption that nucleons are the main contributors to diffraction. The discussion highlights the significance of electron distribution in determining the quality and accuracy of crystallographic data. Overall, the focus on electrons is essential for interpreting X-ray crystallography results effectively.
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X-ray crystallography is now 100 years old so this question is probably pretty simple. Is the diffraction coming from the nucleons or the electrons in the sample? Ie. The electrons occupy a more diverse location within the sample (depending on what level/shell they occupy, in fact some may be floating around as free electrons within the sample) so I assume that x-rays are being diffracted by the nucleons and are not affected by the position of the electrons. Is this correct?
 
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