Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Atomic Number
The atomic number of an element is defined as the number of protons in its nucleus, which determines the element's identity and its position in the periodic table. Moseley's work demonstrated that the atomic number is a more fundamental property than atomic mass, as it correlates with the X-ray wavelengths emitted by elements when they are excited.
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X-ray Emission
X-ray emission occurs when high-energy electrons collide with atoms, causing inner-shell electrons to be ejected and resulting in the transition of outer-shell electrons to lower energy levels. This transition releases energy in the form of X-rays, with specific wavelengths that are characteristic of each element, allowing for the identification of elements based on their emitted X-ray wavelengths.
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Characteristics of Gamma Rays
Wavelength and Energy Relationship
The wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is inversely related to its energy, as described by the equation E = hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength. Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons, which is crucial for understanding the X-ray emissions from elements and determining their atomic numbers based on the observed wavelengths.
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Frequency-Wavelength Relationship