X-raysX-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) are absorbed by matter primarily through the photoelectric effect. Photoelectric absorption occurs when a bound electron (e.g. K shell) is excited to a continuum state by an incident photon of energy. It is thereby possible to discriminate between different elements in a given sample. By using not only K but also L edges and possibly M edges all elements in the periodic table are accessible using synchrotron radiationSynchrotron radiation. Since the effect is dependent only on the presence of an excitable atom and an ordered local environment of that atom, the sample can be disordered (e.g. amorphous, solution) or ordered (e.g. crystalline); the only constraint being that sufficient material be present and the concentration of the excitable atom be enough for a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio. Information concerning the electronic structure and/or immediate environment about the primary absorbing atom can be obtained by the accurate measurement of: the position (point of maximum inflection) of the absorption edge, the details of the edge structure, and the intervals and amplitudes of theExtended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) ripples.