Gallery: Imaging Breakthrough: See Atomic Bonds Before and After Molecular Reaction

  • Molecular Rearrangements
    01

    molecular-rearrangements

    *A ringed, carbon-containing molecule, shown both before and after it has rearranged itself, with the two most common reaction products included. The scale bars measure 3 angstroms, or three ten-billionths of a meter, across. Image and Caption: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California at Berkeley*
  • Reactant 1
    02

    reactant-1

    *The reactant molecule, shown on a silver surface, before rearrangement into products. Image: S. Wickenburg, A. Riss, D. J. Mowbray, F. R. Fischer*
  • Product 2
    03

    product-2

    *Product 2 is one of the two most common molecules produced. Image: S. Wickenburg, A. Riss, D. J. Mowbray, F. R. Fischer*
  • Product 3
    04

    product-3

    *Product 3 is one of the two most common molecules produced. Image: S. Wickenburg, A. Riss, D. J. Mowbray, F. R. Fischer*
  • Product 4
    05

    product-4

    *Product 4 is an unexpected reaction molecule. Image: S. Wickenburg, A. Riss, D. J. Mowbray, F. R. Fischer*
  • Product 5
    06

    product-5

    *The team predicted the existence of Product 5, but it accounted for less than 1 percent of the reaction mixture. Image: S. Wickenburg, A. Riss, D. J. Mowbray, F. R. Fischer*