The Many Measures of Molecular Dimensions |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">S?H?BauerEmail author |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York;(2) University Retirement Community, 1515 Shasta Drive, Davis, California;(3) Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853-1301 |
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Abstract: | In contrast to the high precision with which masses of atoms and molecules can be specified, their external dimensions remain intrinsically fuzzy. Attention is directed to the difference between measurements of interatomic separations within molecules, that in many instances are cited with error bars of +/– 0.002 Å, and the available approximate magnitudes of over-all sizes, needed for estimating packing densities (in solids or liquids). The following account, is a critical examination of the underlying concepts and of the diversity of data in the literature, regarding internal dimensions (bond lengths), overall extensions, cross-sectional areas, and volumes of molecules that may be derived from a variety of experiments. Historical markers of the evolution of the underlying theories and experiments are included. |
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Keywords: | Microscopes resolution limits atomic force detection X-ray and electron diffraction collisional cross-sections solid and liquid densities polymers |
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