Final answer:
X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM provide an image of individual molecules, while AFM averages structures of many molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM compared to AFM in determining molecular structure is that X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM provide an image of each individual molecule as it is oriented in the field, while AFM averages the structure of many individual molecules.
X-ray crystallography measures the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal to determine the size and arrangement of atoms in the crystal.
Cryo-EM, on the other hand, uses an electron microscope to capture images of individual molecules. AFM, or atomic force microscopy, uses a tiny probe to scan the surface of a sample, providing information about height and surface properties.
Trends within the periodic table, such as ionization energy increasing across a row and decreasing down a column, aid in pinpointing the element based on the spectrum.