A metal hydride crystal has a heavy transition-metal lattice with light hydrogen…
PHYSICS · Subjective · Fermi University Physics · Condensed Matter, Materials & Soft Matter · Crystal structure, bonding and diffraction · Crystal structure, bonding and diffraction
Condensed Matter Physics, Ch Diffraction: how a structure is actually measured
Problem
A metal hydride crystal has a heavy transition-metal lattice with light hydrogen atoms sitting in its interstitial sites. You want to locate the hydrogen atoms precisely. Which of X-rays, neutrons or electrons would you choose, and why do X-rays fail at this particular task even though they easily find the heavy metal atoms?