Structural analysis of NaCl and CsCl via Debye–Scherrer powder diffraction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54355/tbusphys/3.2.2025.0031Keywords:
X-ray diffraction, Debye-Scherrer method, crystal structure, sodium chloride, caesium chloride, lattice constantAbstract
This study investigates the crystal structures of sodium chloride and caesium chloride through powder X-ray diffraction using the Debye-Scherrer method. The primary objective was to determine lattice types, calculate lattice constants, and estimate the number of atoms per unit cell based on experimental diffraction ring data. Powdered samples were exposed to X-rays, and the resulting ring patterns were analyzed to assign Miller indices and derive interplanar spacings. The evaluation of ring positions and intensities revealed that sodium chloride crystallizes in a face-centered cubic structure, while caesium chloride adopts a body-centered cubic arrangement. The calculated lattice constants were 562.0 pm for sodium chloride and 409.6 pm for caesium chloride, both in good agreement with standard reference values. Additionally, the number of atoms per unit cell was determined to be approximately four for sodium chloride and two for caesium chloride, consistent with their respective crystal symmetries. The study confirms the reliability of basic X-ray diffraction techniques for structural identification in ionic solids and highlights distinct diffraction trends corresponding to different cubic symmetries. These findings reinforce the effectiveness of the Debye-Scherrer approach in crystallographic education and rapid phase analysis, while also identifying opportunities for enhanced resolution through extended exposure or high-intensity sources.
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