Metal K-edge

Metal K-edge is the excitation of a 1s electron to the 4p shell. This process usually takes place using a strong x-ray light source such as a synchrotron facility. Just before the K-edge is the K pre-edge, an electric dipole forbidden transition from the 1s shell to the metal 3d orbitals. Combined, the techniques are very powerful given that they are element specific and can provide information about oxidation state, spin state, and geometry of the metal center.