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Electron density map

  • Page ID
    17703
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    A three-dimensional description of the electron density in a crystal structure, determined from X-ray diffraction experiments. X-rays scatter from the electron clouds of atoms in the crystal lattice; the diffracted waves from scattering planes h,k,l are described by structure factors \(\mathbf{F}_{hkl}.\) The electron density as a function of position x,y,z is the Fourier transform of the structure factors:

    \(\rho(xyz) = {1\over V}\sum_{hkl} F(hkl)\exp[-2\pi i(hx + ky + lz)]\).

    The electron density map describes the contents of the unit cells averaged over the whole crystal and not the contents of a single unit cell (a distinction that is important where structural disorder is present).

    Three-dimensional maps are often evaluated as parallel two-dimensional contoured sections at different heights in the unit cell.

    Units

    Electron density is measured in electrons per cubic ångström, e Å-3.

    Contributors


    Electron density map is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Online Dictionary of Crystallography.