Editing X-ray fluorescence (section)

====Usage====
[[Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy|EDX]] spectrometers are different from [[Wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy|WDX]] spectrometers in that they are smaller, simpler in design and have fewer engineered parts, however the accuracy and resolution of EDX spectrometers are lower than for WDX.  EDX spectrometers can also use miniature X-ray tubes or gamma sources, which makes them cheaper and allows miniaturization and portability. This type of instrument is commonly used for portable quality control screening applications, such as testing toys for lead (Pb) content, sorting scrap metals, and measuring the lead content of residential paint. On the other hand, the low resolution and problems with low count rate and long dead-time makes them inferior for high-precision analysis. They are, however, very effective for high-speed, multi-elemental analysis. Field Portable XRF analysers currently on the market weigh less than 2&nbsp;kg, and have limits of detection on the order of 2 parts per million of lead (Pb) in pure sand. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope and using EDX, studies have been broadened to organic based samples such as biological samples and polymers.

[[File:dmwdxrfschematic.jpg|thumb|Figure 6: Schematic arrangement of wavelength dispersive spectrometer]]
[[File:XRFgoniometer manual.jpg|thumb|right|Chemist operates a [[goniometer]] used for X-ray fluorescence analysis of individual grains of mineral specimens, [[U.S. Geological Survey]], 1958.]]