A textbook for the advanced undergraduate or graduate student beginning a serious study of X-ray crystallography. It will be of interest both to those intending to become professional crystallographers and to those physicists, chemists, biologists, geologists, metallurgists and others who will use it as a tool in their research. All major aspects of crystallography are covered - the geometry of crystals and their symmetry, theoretical and practical aspects of diffracting X-rays by crystals and how the data may be analysed to find the symmetry of the crystal and its structure. Recent advances are fully covered, including the synchrotron as a source of X-rays, methods of solving structures from power data and the full range of techniques for solving structures from single-crystal data. A suite of computer programs is provided for carrying out many operations of data-processing and solving crystal structures - including by direct methods. While these are limited to two dimensions they fully illustrate the characteristics of three-dimensional work. These programs are required for many of the examples given at the end of each chapter but may also be used to create new examples by which students can test themselves or each other.

‘… compulsory reading … extensively revised and updated … Woolfson was, and remains, a pioneer in this field. His work has revolutionised chemical crystallography … In summary, this book complements a number of texts in the field destined for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates, making it indispensable reading. The availability of a paperback version at a quite reasonable price serves to reinforce this. No crystallography laboratory should be without it.’

Chris Gilmore Source: Chemistry in Britain

‘… a comprehensive text of fundamental principles and theory … I would wholeheartedly recommend this as a solid formal text for the serious X-ray crystallographer.’

Keith D. Rogers Source: Crystallography News

‘… the new edition has been brought bang up to date with modern crystallographic techniques … I am delighted to welcome back this authoritative and highly readable textbook.’

David C. Palmer Source: Geological Magazine

‘ … highly recommendable to everybody who wishes to understand what he (or she) does when pressing the return key.’

P. Luger Source: Zeitschrift für Kristallographie