Getting structural formula of complex molecules? [closed]








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How is it possible to precisely map huge molecules? Somehow, scientists easily know the structure of a compound of any complexity.


What techniques are used to know the sturcture of molecules like [this one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancomycin), or complex proteins that can be constructed of thousands of atoms, like the ones used in intracellular processes? It is so common to see them drawn as structural formulaes or pictured in a video, with a fine per-atom precision... but how?


**UPDATE**


This update addresses the comments about the question being too broad.


Firstly, I want to say that for me this question is rather exact - here and there, in lots of places over the internet, I see structural formulas and 3D models of countless chemical compouds that claim to bear a 100%-precise depiction of the actual molecule structure (I have linked an example). And I am interested in how all this data is gathered and why is it 100%-correct? I am so used to the pictures of all these complex compounds that I take them for granted. But recently I became to wonder, how do we even get these, how this knowledge is received?


Secondly, although there's certainly a difference between a structural formula and a dynamic 3D model like in [this](http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/dna-replication-advanced-detail) video, it is not so important in this question. The fact that we can precisely depict any compound or molecule is not even in question, it looks like that there's no problem in doing so for any chemical.


*The very exact question is: what is(are) the method(s) of getting such precise formulas and pictures for objects (molecules) that are not even visible to the naked eye or microscope?*


Of course, there can be differences in how the mapping is done for different molecules, or some data, like the 3D model can be complemented by some computation conducted with help of a computer, but all in all, what is the basis of our confidence of being able to exactly know a structure of any molecule?


Though, especially, after reading the comments, I think that a proper answer could be too large and include historical data..


