Which analytical technique is used to measure bond lengths in solid compounds?A. IR spectroscopyB. Mass spectroscopyC. NMR spectroscopyD. X-ray crystallography

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the techniques listed in the options.
2. Understand the primary purpose of each technique related to measuring bond lengths.

Relevant Concepts

• IR Spectroscopy: Primarily used to determine molecular vibrations and functional groups, but not bond lengths directly.
• Mass Spectroscopy: Used for identifying compounds based on mass-to-charge ratio, and does not provide bond lengths.
• NMR Spectroscopy: Useful for determining the environment of hydrogen and carbon atoms in compounds but not direct measurements of bond lengths.
• X-ray Crystallography: A technique that involves diffracting X-rays through a crystal to determine the arrangement of atoms within the crystal lattice, allowing precise measurement of bond lengths.

Analysis and Detail

• After analyzing the listed techniques, it’s clear that IR spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy do not measure bond lengths, as their functions are more about vibrations and mass identification. NMR spectroscopy provides structural information about compounds but does not give direct bond length measurements. X-ray crystallography, however, provides detailed information about the spatial arrangement of atoms and allows for accurate measurements of bond lengths within a solid compound.

Verify and Summarize

• X-ray crystallography not only identifies the crystalline structure but also allows for accurate measurements of the distances between atoms in a solid compound. This makes it the most appropriate choice for measuring bond lengths.

Final Answer

The analytical technique used to measure bond lengths in solid compounds is D. X-ray crystallography.