Determination of the lattice constant of NaCl crystal using X-ray diffraction

Abstract

X-rays are characterized by a wavelength that is close to the interatomic distance, which is about     10 ^-8cm. This makes them suitable for studying the crystal structure of solid materials. When X-rays are incident on a solid material, they are diffracted by atomic planes, and by analyzing their paths and interactions, an interference pattern is formed that carries information about the material’s internal structure. This study investigates the theoretical basis of the penetration of X-rays into sodium chloride crystals, where their behavior is observed inside the crystal. The diffraction phenomenon resulting from this interaction is analyses using Bragg’s Law, along with discussing its importance in understanding the biological structure using X-ray diffraction techniques. In this research, information was obtained through the analysis of NaCl crystal models and by calculating the interplanar spacing between atoms using Bragg’s Law for the (100) and (110) planes. From these results, the lattice constant of the crystal was determined.