Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy EDX or EDS are commonly used in conjunction with electron column instruments. X-rays entering the Si (Li) detector are transformed into signals that the electronics can translate into an X-ray energy histogram. The form and relative amount of each element in the sample are represented by a series of peaks in this X-ray spectrum. By comparing counts to norms or using calculations, the number of counts in each peak can be translated into elemental weight concentration.