ABSTRACT
The distribution curves obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) must be compared with those obtained from other techniques. The techniques suitable to directly provide the single pair correlation functions must be developed. This chapter focuses on those structural techniques that are able to provide total and, above all, partial pair correlation functions (that is, neutron diffraction, ND; extended X-ray absorption fine structure, EXAFS; and computer simulation methods), disregarding other techniques, such as NMR, which can also provide more or less direct structural information. EXAFS spectral region has been used in structural studies on aqueous solutions. Details on experimental techniques and data treatments will not be given, but the chapter presents the basic principles necessary to frame the experimental results. It also focuses on the structural results and on their comparison, whenever possible, with those obtained by XRD.
