3 semesters later
Chemistry question:
I'm reading a book ("Napoleon's Buttons") on chemistry and its role in history. Lots of fun chemical structures, with an emphasis on the huge differences between molecules with the same number and type of atoms but slight differences in their arrangement.
I can mostly grasp how elements are identified within molecules, but can anyone summarize in a few sentences how a scientist would deduce the structure of a molecule - i.e. the arrangement of the atoms? I've tried squinting, but no dice.
I'm reading a book ("Napoleon's Buttons") on chemistry and its role in history. Lots of fun chemical structures, with an emphasis on the huge differences between molecules with the same number and type of atoms but slight differences in their arrangement.
I can mostly grasp how elements are identified within molecules, but can anyone summarize in a few sentences how a scientist would deduce the structure of a molecule - i.e. the arrangement of the atoms? I've tried squinting, but no dice.