From: gay@sfu.ca   
      
   RichD wrote:   
      
   > How do chemists determine the precise locations   
   > of individual atoms within a molecule?   
   >   
   >   
   > For atomic physics, the only thing we can observe   
   > is spectra.  Bombard the sample with radiation,   
   > modulate the temperature, read the spectra.  But   
   > we can't micro-photograph and see the locations   
   > of the components.   
   >   
   > For instance, fatty acids:   
   > https://tinyurl.com/fatty-acid00   
   >   
   >   
   > --   
   > Rich   
      
   x-ray diffraction in solids. For small molecules, microwave spectroscopy   
   in gas phase, probably with isotopic substitutions.   
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