Question

Will a crystalline solid or an amorphous solid give a simpler X - ray diffraction pattern? Why?

Short answer

A crystalline solid will give a simpler X - ray diffraction pattern.

Step-by-step solution

Crystalline solid

Sincecrystalline solids are made of individual crystals and each crystal has a well-defined shape and forms flat faces when broken, they give a simpler X - ray diffraction pattern.

Amorphous solid

Unlike crystalline solids, amorphous solids do not have a well-defined shape and form irregular faces when broken. Therefore, they do not give a simpler X - ray diffraction pattern.