The advances in and applications of x-ray and neutron crystallography form the essence of this
new edition of this classic textbook while maintaining the overall plan of the book that has
been well received in the academic community since the first edition in 1977. X-ray
crystallography is a universal tool for studying molecular structure and the complementary
nature of neutron diffraction crystallography permits the location of atomic species in
crystals which are not easily revealed by X-ray techniques alone such as hydrogen atoms or
other light atoms in the presence of heavier atoms. Thus a chapter discussing the practice of
neutron diffraction techniques with examples broadens the scope of the text in a highly
desirable way. As with previous editions the book contains problems to illustrate the work of
each chapter and detailed solutions are provided. Mathematical procedures related to the
material of the main body of the book are not discussed in detail but are quoted where needed
with references to standard mathematical texts. To address the computational aspect of
crystallography the suite of computer programs from the fourth edition has been revised and
expanded. The programs enable the reader to participate fully in many of the aspects of x-ray
crystallography discussed in the book. In particular the program system XRAY* is interactive
and enables the reader to follow through at the monitor screen the computational techniques
involved in single-crystal structure determination albeit in two dimensions with the data
sets provided. Exercises for students can be found in the book and solutions are available to
instructors.
